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THE   LIFE   OF   NELSON. 


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property  of  the  LibrSi 
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Copyright  188S, 
By  Roberts  Brothers. 


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Univbksity  Press  t 
John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambkidqb. 


II/TANY  lives  of  Nelson  have  been  written:  one  is 
yet  wanting,  clear  and  concise  enough  to  become 
a  manual  for  the  young  sailor,  which  he  may  carry 
about  with  him,  till  he  has  treasured  up  the  example 
in  his  memory  and  in  his  heart.  In  attempting  such 
a  work,  I  shall  write  the  eulogy  of  our  great  naval 
hero;  for  the  best  eulogy  of  Nelson  is  the  faithful 
history  of  his  actions:  the  best  history,  that  which 
shall  relate  them  most  perspicuously. 


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"  Bursting  through  the  gloom 

With  radiant  glory  from  thy  trophied  tomb, 
llie  sacred  splendor  of  thy  deathless  name 
Shall  grace  and  guard  thy  Country's  martial  fame. 
Far-seen  shall  blaze  the  unextinguished  ray, 
A  mighty  beacon,  lighting  Glory's  way; 
With  living  lustre  this  proud  Land  adorn, 
And  shine,  and  save,  through  ages  yet  unborn." 
^  .-  «      — XJlm  and  Tbafalgab 


f  -  ■%' 


II 


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^•^,'<  Al    't"!    ".  .iTt    ", 


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fi-\/: 


CONTENTS. 


I 


CHAPTER  I. 


Page 


Nblson's  birth  and  boyhood — He  is  entered  on  board  the  Raisonnabl 
Goes  to  the  West  Indies  in  a  merchant'-ship— His  dislike  to  the  Royal 
Navy — Serves  in  the  Triumph — Sails  in  Captain  Phipps'  voyage  of 
discoverer  to  the  North  Pole — Adventures  in  the  polar  regions — Passes 
his  examination  for  a  Lieutenancy — Proceeds  to  the  East  Indies  in  the 
Seahorse — Returns  in  ill  health^Conse^uent  despondency — Reaction 
of  feeling — Serves  as  Acting-Lieutenant  in  the  Worcester,  and  is  made 
Lieutenant  into  the  Lowestoffe,  Commander  into  the  Badger  brig,  and 
Post  into  the  Hinchinbrook — Expedition  against  the  Spanish  Main — 
Its  failure — Injuiy  to  Nelson's  health — He  is  appointed  to  the  Janus, 
but  obliged  to  resign  the  command — Returns  to  England — Is  sent  to  the 
North  Seas  in  the  Albemarle — His  services  during  the  American  war — 
Narrowly  escapes  Matrimony — Is  presented  at  Court <  ( 


/^ 


'  CHAPTER  XL 

Velson  goes  to  France  during  the  Peace — Forms  a  second  attachment — 
Is  re-apppinted  to  the  Boreas — Goes  to  the  West  Indies — His  kindness 
to  his  Midshipmen — Has  a  dispute  with  Admiral  Hughes — Chases  a 
French  frigate — Enforces  the  Navigation  Act— Meets  with  opposition 
from  the  West  Indians — Seizes  four  American  vessels— Is  prosecuted 
by  the  Captains— Marries  the  widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet— Exposes  the  con- 
duct of  the  Navy  Contractors— Returns  to  England — His  reception- 
Is  on  the  point  of  quitting  the  service  in  disgust — His  manner  of  life 
while  at  noir^:e~Is  threatened  with  a  new  prosecution — Applies  for 
active  employ .neut — Appointed  to  the  Agamemnon  on  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  of  the  French  Revolution 39 


t    ■.     I 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Agamemnon  sent  to  the  Mediterranean — Commencement  of  Nel- 
son's acquaintance  with  Sir  William  and  Ladv  Hamilton — Is  sent  to 
join  Commodore  Linzee,  at  Tunis — Action  witn  a  French  frigate— Is 
ordered  to  Corsica,  to  co-operate  with  Paoli — The  struggles  of  uie  Cor- 
sicans  for  liberty— Their  treatment  by  the  French— The  Protector 


TiU 


CONTENTS. 


.ir:- 


Pt|l 


Gaffori— The  patriot  Paoli— Siege  of  St  Fiorenzo— Nelion  beeient 
and  reduces  Baitia— Takes  a  prominent  part  in  the  Siege  of  Calvi— 
Loses  and  Eye— Annexation  of  Corsica— Admiral  Hotham's  Action— 
The  Agamemnon  engages  the  Ca  Ira  and  the  Ccnscur— Nelson  pro 
ceeds  to  Genoa  to  co-operate  with  the  Austrian  and  Sardinian  forces — 
General  de  Vins— His  character  and  conduct— Nelson's  difficulties- 
Defeat  of  the  Austrians 60 


^1 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Sir  John  Jenris  takes  the  command— His  confidence  in  Nelson — Genoa 
openly  )oins  the  French — Bonaparte  begins  his  career — His  first  suc- 
cesses in  Italy— Evacuation  of  Corsica — Nelson  superintends  the  em- 
barkation at  Bastia— Hoists  his  broad  pendant  in  the  Minerve  frigate- 
Engages  two  Spanish  frigates — Leaves  the  Mediterranean — Proceeds 
to  join  the  Admiral — Falls  in  with  the  Spanish  fleet— Battle  off  Cape 
St.  Vincent — Captures^he  San  Nicolas  and  San  Josef— Sir  Tohn  Jer^ 
vis's  account  of  the  victory — Nelson  receives  the  Order  of  tne  Bath — 
Commands  the  inner  squadron  at  the  blockade  of  Cadiz — Conflict  with 
a  Spanish  launch— Expiedition  against  Santa  Cruz — Is  shcft  through  the 
arm— Failure  of  the  attack— Generosity  of  the  Spanish  Governor— Nel- 
son returns  to  England — Sufferings  from  his  wound— Recovery  ...    97 


'    .  CHAPTER  V. 

Nelson  hoists  his  Flag  in  the  Vanguard,  and  joins  Earl  St.  Vincent— Is 
despatched  to  the  Mediterranean— Encounters  a  gtlt  in  the  Gulf  of 
Lyons— His  reflections  on  the  consequent  disaster*— Refits  at  St.  Pietro 
— Is  reinforced,  and  sails  in  search  of  the  French  Fleet — Returns  to 
Sicily,  and  victuals  at  Syracuse— Sails  again  for  Egypt— Finds  the 
French  Fleet  in  Aboukir  Bay— His  plan  of  attack— Battle  of  the  Nile 
— Is  wounded  in  the  head — Blowing  up  of  L' Orient— The  result  of  the 
battle  a  conquest,  not  a  victory— Hu  expression  of  regret  at  the  want  of 
frigates— Sends  the  intelligence  of  the  victory  to  India— Honors  con- 
femd  upon  him — Exertions  on  behalf  of  his  officers  and  men— His  dis- 
posal of  the  prizes— Sets  out  on  his  return  to  Naples 116 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Returns  to  Naples— His  reception  there— State  of  that  court  and  king- 
dom— General  Mack— Defeat  of  the  Neapolitan  Army— The  French 
approach  Naples — Flight  of  the  Royal  Family — Renewed  operations 
against  the  French — State  of  affairs  in  Sicily — Conduct  of  the  Neapoli- 
tans, and  consequent  difficulties  of  the  British  officers — Siege  of  Uovo  , 
and  Nuovo — Nelson  arrives,  and  annuls  the  capitulation — Successes  of 
the  allies — Nelson's  conduct  to  Caraccioli — Disobeys  the  order  to  repair 
to  Minorca — His  reasons — Restoration  of  royalty  at  Naples — Is  made 
Duke  of  Bronte— Expels  the  French  from  Rome— Siege  of  Malt»— 
Sufferings  of  the  troops  and  people— Conduct  of  the  Sicilian  court— 
Decidea  measures  of  Captain  Ball— Capitulation  of  Malta— Nelson 
leaves  the  Mediterranean^  and  returns  to  England— Inddenta  of  hi* 
Jooraey— Popular  admiration  of  him— The  old  German  Pastor   •    •      157 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Pag* 


Euthuiiutic  reception  of  Nelson  in  England— Separates  from  Lady  Nel- 
son— Is  sent  to  the  Baltic  under  Sir  Hyde  Parker — The  Expedition 
•gainst  Copenhagen— Plans  of  attack— Difficulties  in  passing  the  Sound 
—The  Fleet  off  Cronenburg  Castle— Battle  of  Copennagen— Sir  Hyd« 
makes  the  signal  to  cease  aaion,  which  is  disobeyed  by  Nelson— Suo> 
cess  of  the  British — Nelson's  letter  to  the  Crown-Prince — Cessation  of  ' 
hostilities^Extent  of  the  casualties— Negotiations  for  an  armistice- 
Nelson's  interviews  with  the  Crown-Prince — Disposal  of  the  prise*^ 
The  Danish  Commodore's  account  of  the  battle,  and  Nelson's  reply-~ 
Is  made  a  Viscount soy 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Recall  of  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  and  appointment  of  Nelson  to  the  command^ 
Goes  to  Revel — Peace  with  Russia,  and  settlement  of  affairs  in  the 
Baltic — Suspicious  conduct  of  Denmark — Returns  to  England— Com- 
mands the  Channel  Fleet — Unsuccessful  attack  upon  the  French  Flo- 
tilla at  Boulogne — Peace  of  Amiens — Renewal  of  the  war — Nelson 
again  takes  the  command  in  the  Mediterranean — Hostilities  with  Spain 
—Blockade  of  Toulon— M.  Latouche  Treville — Escape  of  Villeneuve'a 
Fleet— Nelson  goes  to  Eevpt  in  search  of  it— Then  chases  it  to  the 
West  Indies  and  back— Delivers  up  his  sqoadron  to  Admiral  Com- 
walli»— Returns  to  England a^s 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Sir  Robert  Calder's  Action— Villeneuve's  Fleet  gets  into  Cadiz— General 
approval  of  Nelson's  conduct — His  life  at  Merton — His  anxiety  re- 

iarding  the  combined  fleets— Offers  his  services,  and  is  re-smpointed  to 
be  command  in  the  Mediterranean— His  departure  from  Portsmouth 
—Popular  demonstrations  of  attachment  to  nim — Arrives  off  Cadiz- 
Reception  of  him  by  the  Fleet — Villeneuve  puts  to  sea— Nelson's  plan 
of  attack — His  last  appeal  on  behalf  of  Lady  Hamilton— Judicious 
dispositions  of  Villeneuve — Nelson'scelebratedsignal- Battle  of  Tra- 
falgar— Breaking  the  enemy's  line — Nelson  receives  his  death  wound— 
His  last  moments — Capture  of  the  Redoubtable,  from  which  the  fatal 
shot  was  fired— Results  of  the  battle— Honors  conferred  on  Nelson's 
memory — Conclusion 28$ 


I 


:  ( 


7T 


Birthplace  of  Nelson— Burnham-Thorpe. 


THE    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 


CHAPTER   L 


TJORATIO,  son  of  Edmund  and  Catherine  Nel- 
"*•  son,  was  born  September  29,  1758,  in  the 
parsonage  house  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  a  village  in 
the  county  of  Norfolk,  of  which  his  father  was 
rector.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was 
Suckling:  her  grandmother  was  an  elder  sister  of 


12 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


Sir  Robert  Walpole,  and  this  child  was  named 
after  his  godfather,  the  first  Lord  Walpole.  Mrs. 
Nelson  died  in  1767,  leaving  eight,  out  of  eleven, 
children.  Her  brother,  Captaii^  Maurice  Suckling, 
of  the  navy,  visited  the  widower  upon  this  event, 
and  promised  to  take  care  of  one  of  the  boys. 
Three  years  afterwards,  when  Horatio  was  only 
twelve  years  of  age,  being  at  home  during  the 
Christmas  holidays,  he  read  in  the  county  newspa- 
per that  his  uncle  was  appointed  to  the  Raisonnable, 
of  sixty-four  guns.  "Do,  William,"  said  he  to  a 
brother  who  was  a  year  and  a  half  older  than  him- 
self, **  write  to  my  father,  and  tell  him  that  I  should 
like  to  go  to  sea  with  uncle  Maurice."  Mr.  Nelson 
was  then  at  Bath,  whither  he  had  gone  for  the 
recovery  of  his  health:  his  circumstances  were 
straitened,  and  he  had  no  prospect  of  ever  seeing 
them  bettered :  he  knew  that  it  was  the  wish  of 
providing  for  himself  by  which  Horatio  was  chiefly 
actuated ;  and  did  not  oppose  his  resolution :  he 
understood  also  the  boy's  character,  and  had  always 
said,  that  in  whatever  station  he  might  be  placed, 
he  would  climb,  if  possible,  to  the  very  top  of  the 
tree.  Accordingly  Captain  Suckling  was  written  to. 
*'  What,"  said  he  in  his  answer,  "  has  poor  Horatio 
done,  who  is  so  weak,  that  he  above  all  the  rest, 
should  be  sent  to  rough  it  out  at  sea  ?  But  let  him 
come,  and  the  first  time  we  go  into  action,  a  cannon 
ball  may  knock  off  his  head,  and  provide  for  him 
at  once." 

It  is  manifest  from  these  words,  that  Horatio  was 
not  the  boy  whom  his  uncle  would  have  chosen 
to  bring  up  in  his  own  profession.  He  was  never 
of  a  strong  body ;  and  the  ague,  which  at  that  time 
was  one  of  the  most  common  diseases  in  England, 
had  greatly  reduced  his  strength  ;  yet  he  had  already 
given  proofs  of  that  resolute  heart  and  nobleness 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


18 


^f  iind,  which,  dnring  his  whole  career  of  labor 
ar  i  of  glory,  so  eminently  distinguished  him. 
When  a  mere  child,  he  strayed  a  bird's-nesting 
from  his  grandmother's  house  in  company  with  a 
cow-boy :  the  dinner  hour  clasped ;  he  was  absent, 
and  could  not  be  found;  and  the  alarm  of  the 
family  became  very  great,  for  they  apprehended 
that  he  might  have  been  carried  oflf  by  gipsies.  At 
length,  after  search  had  been  made  for  him  in  vari- 
ous directions,  he  was  discovered  alone,  sitting  com- 
posedly by  the  side  of  a  brook  which  he  could  not 
get  over.  "  I  wonder,  child,"  said  the  old  lady 
when  she  saw  him,  "  that  hunger  and  fear  did  not 
drive  you  home." — "Fear!  grandmamma,"  replied 
the  future  hero,  "  I  never  saw  fear : — What  is  it?" 
Once,  after  the  winter  holidays,  when  he  and  his 
brother  William  had  set  off  on  horseback  to  return 
to  school,  they  came  back  because  there  had  been  a 
fall  of  snow ;  and  William,  who  did  not  much  like 
the  journey,  said  it  was  too  deep  for  them  to  ven- 
ture on.  *'  If  that  be  the  case,"  said  the  father, 
**  you  certainly  shall  not  go :  but  make  another 
attempt,  and  I  will  leave  it  to  your  honor.  If  the 
road  is  dangerous,  you  may  return :  but  remember, 
boys,  I  leave  it  to  your  honor."  The  snow  was 
deep  enough  to  have  afforded  them  a  reasonable 
excuse ;  but  Horatio  was  not  to  be  prevailed  upon 
to  turn  back.  "We  must  go  on,"  said  he:  "re- 
member, brother,  it  was  left  to  our  honor ! " — There 
were  some  fine  pears  growing  in  the  schoolmaster's 
garden,  which  the  boys  regarded  as  lawful  booty, 
and  in  the  highest  degree  tempting ;  but  the  boldest 
among  them  were  afraid  to  venture  for  the  prize. 
Horatio  volunteered  upon  this  service :  he  was 
lowered  down  at  night  from  the  bedroom  window 
by  some  sheets,  plundered  the  tree,  was  drawn  up 
with  the  pears,  and  then  distributed  them  among  his 


^■m^'t  . 


14 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


schoolfellows  without  reserving  any  for  himself. 
— "He  only  took  them,'*  he  said,  "because  every 
other  boy  was  afraid." 

Early  on  a  cold  and  dark  spring  morning  Mr. 
Nelson's  servant  arrived  at  this  school,  at  North 
Walsham,  with  the  expected  summons  for  Horatio 
to  join  his  ship.  The  parting  from  his  brother 
William,  who  had  been  for  so  many  years  his 
playmate  and  bed-fellow,  was  a  painful  effort,  and 
was  the  beginning  of  those  privations  which  are  the 
sailor's  lot  through  life.  He  accompanied  his  father 
to  London.  The  Raisonnable  was  lying  in  the  Med- 
way.  He  was  put  into  the  Chatham  stage,  and  on 
,,  its  arrival  was  set  down  with  the  rest  of  the  pas- 
sengers, and  left  to  find  his  way  on  board  as  he 
VH  c6uld.     After  wandering  about  in  the  cold  without 

being  able  to  reach  the  ship,  an  oflScer  observed  the 
forlorn  appearance  of  the  boy ;  questioned  him ; 
and,  happening  to  be  acquainted  with  his  uncle, 
took  him  home,  and  gave  him  some  refreshments. 
When  he  got  on  board.  Captain  Suckling  was  not 
,,j  ;  in  the  ship,  nor  had  any  person  been  apprised  of 
V(  '  the  boy's  coming.  He  paced  the  deck  the  whole 
' '  remainder  of  the  day,  without  being  noticed  by  any 
one ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  second  day  that  some- 
body, as  he  expressed  it,  "  took  compassion  on 
him."  The  pain  which  is  felt  when  we  are  first 
ti'ansplanted  from  our  native  soil,  when  the  living 
branch  is  cut  from  the  parent  tree, — is  one  of  the 
most  poignant  which  we  have  to  endure  through 
life.  There  are  after-griefs  which  wound  more 
deeply,  which  leave  behind  them  scars  never  to  be 
effaced,  which  bruise  the  spirit,  and  sometimes 
break  the  heart:  but  never  do  we  feel  so  keenly 
J  the  want  of  love,  the  necessity  of  being  loved,  and 
the  sense  of  utter  desertion,  as  when  we  first  leave 
the  haven  of  home,  and  are,  as  it  were,  pushed  olS 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


n 


upon  the  stream  of  life.  Added  to  these  feelings, 
the  sea  boy  has  to  endure  physical  hardships,  and 
the  privation  of  every  comfort,  even  of  sleep.  Nel- 
son had  a  feeble  body  and  an  affectionate  heart,  and 
he  remembered  through  life  his  first  days  of  wretch- 
edness in  the  service. 

The  Raisonnable  having  been  commissioned  on 
account  of  the  dispute  respecting  the  Falkland 
Islands,  was  paid  off  as  soon  as  the  difference 
with  the  court  of  Spain  was  accommodated,  and 
Captain  Suckling  was  removed  to  the  Triumph, 
seventy-four,  then  stationed  as  a  guardship  in  the 
Thames.  This  was  considered  as  too  inactive  a  life 
for  a  boy,  and  Nelson  was  therefore  sent  a  voyage 
to  the  West  Indies  in  a  merchant  ship,  commanded 
by  Mr.  John  Rathbone,  an  excellent  seaman,  who 
had  served  as  master's  mate  under  Captain  Suckling 
in  the  Dreadnought.  He  returned  a  practical  sea- 
man, but  with  a  hatred  of  the  king's  service,  and  a 
saying  then  common  among  the  sailors — **  Aft  the 
most  honor ;  forward  the  better  man."  Rathbone 
had  probably  been  disappointed  and  disgusted  in 
the  navy ;  and,  with  no  unfriendly  intentions, 
warned  Nelson  against  a  profession  which  he  him- 
self had  found  hopeless.  His  uncle  received  him 
on  board  the  Triumph  on  his  return ;  and  discover- 
ing his  dislike  to  the  navy,  took  the  best  means  of 
reconciling  him  to  it.  He  held  it  out  as  a,  reward, 
that  if  he  attended  well  to  his  navigation,  he  should 
go  in  the  cutter  and  decked  long  boat,  which  was 
attached  to  the  commanding  oflScer's  ship  at  Chat- 
ham. Thus  he  became  a  good  pilot  for  vessels  of 
that  description,  from  Chatham  to  the  Tower,  and 
down  the  Swin  Channel  to  the  North  Foreland,  and 
acquired  a  confidence  among  rocks  and  sands  j  of 
which  he  often  felt  the  value. 

Nelson  had  not  been  many  months  on  board  the 


V 


tl 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


/ 


Triumph  when  his  love  of  enterprise  was  excited 
by  hearing  that  two  ships  were  fitting  out  for  a  voy- 
age of  discovery  towards  the  North  Pole.  In  con- 
sequence, of  the  difficulties  which  were  expected  on 
such  a  service,  these  vessels  were  to  take  out  effec- 
tive men  instead  of  the  usual  number  of  boys. 
This,  however,  did  not  deter  him  from  soliciting  to 
be  received,  and  by  his  uncle's  interest  he  was  ad- 
mitted as  coxswain  under  Captain  Lutwidge,  second 
in  command.  The  voyage  was  undeii;aken  in  com- 
pliance with  an  application  from  the  Boyal  Society. 
The  Hon.  Captain  Constantine  John  Fhipps,  eldest 
son  of  Lord  Mulgi'ave,  volunteered  his  services. 
The  Racehorse  and  Carcass  bombs  were  selected, 
as  the  strongest  ships,  and  therefore  best  adapted 
for  such  a  voyage ;  and  they  were  taken  into  dock 
and  strengthened,  to  render  them  as  secure  as  pos- 
sible against  the  ice.  Two  masters  of  Greenland- 
men  were  employed  as  pilots  for  each  ship.  No 
expedition  was  ever  more  carefully  fitted  out ;  and 
the  first  lord  of  the  admiralty.  Lord  Sandwich,  with 
a  laudable  solicitude,  went  on  board  himself  before 
their  departure,  to  see  that  everything  had  been 
completed  to  the  wish  of  the  officers.  The  ships 
were  provided  with  a  simple  and  excellent  apparatus 
for  distilling  fresh  from  salt  water,  the  invention  of 
Dr.  Irving,  who  accompanied  the  expedition.  It 
consisted  merely  of  fitting  a  tube  to  the  ship's  ket- 
tle, and  applying  a  wet  mop  to  the  surface,  as  the 
vapor  was  passing.  By  these  means,  from  thirty- 
four  to  forty  gallons  were  produced  every  day. 

Thev  sailed  from  the  Nore  on  the  4th  of  June; 
on  the  6th  of  the  following  month  they  were  in  lati- 
tude 79°  66'  39" ;  longitude  9*  43'  30"  E.  The  next 
day,  about  the  place  where  most  of  the  old  discov- 
ers had  been  stopped,  the  Kacehorse  was  beset  with 
lee ;  but  they  hove  her  through  with  ice  anchors. 


\' 


'•*fW' 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


17 


Captain  Phipps  continued  ranging  along  the  ice, 
northward  and  westward,  till  the  24th ;  he  then 
tried  to  the  eastward.  On  the  30th  he  was  in 
latitude  80°  13',  longitude  18°  48'  E.,  among  the 
islands  and  in  the  ice,  with  no  appearance  of  an 
opening  for  the  ships.  The  weather  was  exceed- 
ingly fine,  mild,  and  unusually  clear.  Kere  they 
were  becalmed  in  a  large  bay,  with  three  apparent 
openings  between  the  islands  which  formed  it:  but 
everywhere,  as  far  as  they  could  see,  suiTOunded 
with  ice.  There  was  not  a  breath  of  air,  the  water 
was  perfectly  smooth,  the  ice  covered  with  snow, 
low  and  even,  except  a  few  broken  pieces  near  the 
edge ;  and  the  pools  of  water  in  the  middle  of  the 
ice  fields  just  crusted  over  with  young  ice.  On  the 
next  day  the  ice  closed  upon  them,  and  no  opening 
was  to  be  seen  anywhere,  except  a  hole  or  lake,  as 
it  might  be  called,  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in 
circumference,  where  the  ships  lay  fast  to  the  ice 
with  their  ice  anchors.  They  filled  their  casks  with 
water  from  these  ice  fields,  which  was  very  pure  and 
soft.  The  men  were  playing  on  the  ice  all  day  ;  but 
the  Greenland  pilots,  who  were  further  than  they 
had  ever  been  before,  and  considered  that  the  sea- 
son was  far  advancing,  were  alarmed  at  being  thus 
beset. 

The  next  day  there  was  not  the  smallest  opening, 
the  ships  were  within  less  than  two  lengths  of  each 
other,  separated  by  ice,  and  neither  having  room  to 
turn.  The  ice,  which  the  day  before  had  been  flat, 
and  almost  level  with  the  water's  edge,  was  now  in 
many  places  forced  higher  than  the  mainyard,  by 
the  pieces  squeezing  together.  A  day  of  thick  fog 
followed:  it  was  succeeded  by  clear  weather,  but 
the  passage  by  yrhich  the  ships  had  entered  from 
the  westward  was  closed,  and  no  open  water  was  in ' 
sight,  either  in  that  or  any  other  quarter.     By  the 


18 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


pilots'  advice  the  men  were  set  to  cut  a  passage, 
and  warp  through  the  small  openings  to  the  west- 
ward. They  sawed  through  pieces  of  ice  twelve 
feet  thick ;  and  this  labor  continued  the  whole  day, 
during  which  their  utmost  efforts  did  not  move  the 
ships  above  three  hundred  yards ;  while  they  were 
driven,  together  with  the  ice,  far  to  the  N.  E.  and 
E.  by  the  cun'ent.  Sometimes  a  field  of  several 
acres  square  would  be  lifted  up  between  two  larger 
islands,  and  incorporated  with  them ;  and  thus 
these  larger  pieces  continued  to  grow  by  aggre- 
gation. Another  day  passed,  and  there  seemed 
no  probability  of  getting  the  ships  out,  without 
a  strong  E.  or  N.  E.  wind.  The  season  was  far 
advanced,  and, every  hour  lessened  the  chance  of 
extricating  themselves.  Young  as  he  was.  Nelson 
was  appointed  to  command  one  of  the  boats  which 
were  sent  out  to  explore  a  passage  into  the  open 
water.  It  was  the  means  of  saving  a  boat  belong- 
ing to  the  Eacehorse  from  a  singular  but  imminent 
danger.  Some  of  the  oflScers  had  fired  at,  and 
wounded,  a  walrus.  As  no  other  animal  has  so 
hUman-like  an  expression  in  its  countenance,  so 
also  is  there  none  that  seems  to  possess  more  of  the 
passions  of  humanity.  The  wounded  animal  dived 
immediately,  and  brought  up  a  number  of  its  com- 
panions ;  and  they  all  joined  in  an  attack  upon  the 
boat.  They  wi'ested  an  oar  from  one  of  the  men  ; 
and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  crew 
could  prevent  them  from  staving  or  upsetting  her, 
till  the  Carcass's  boat  came  up :  and  the  walruses, 
finding  their  enemies  thus  reinforced,  dispersed. 
Young  Nelson  exposed  himself  in  a  more  daring 
manner.  One  night,  during  the  mid-watch,  he  stole 
from  the  ship  with  one  of  his  comrades,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  a  rising  fog,  and  set  out  over  the  ice  in 
pursuit  of  a  bear.    It  was  not  long  before  they  were 


i- 


m 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


!• 


and 
so 
so 
f  the 
lived 
com- 
n  the 
men ; 
crew 
;  her, 
•uses, 
rsed. 
aring 
stole 
ad- 
ce  in 
were 


missed.  The  fog  thickened,  and  Captain  Lntwidge 
and  his  officers  became  exceedingly  alarmed  for 
their  safety.  Between  three  and  four  in  the  morn- 
ing the  weather  cleared,  and  the  two  adventurers, 
were  seen,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  ship, 
attacking  a  huge  bear.  The  signal  for  them  to  re- 
turn was  immediately  made :  Nelson's  comrade 
called  upon  him  to  obey  it,  but  in  vain ;  his  mus- 
ket had  flashed  in  the  pan ;  their  ammunition  was 
expended ;  and  a  chasm  in  the  ice,  which  divided 
him  from  the  bear,  probably  preserved  his  life. 
"Never  mind,"  he  cried;  "do  but  let  me  get  a 
blow  at  this  devil  with  the  butt-end  of  mv  musket, 
and  we  shall  have  him."  Captain  Lutwidge,  how- 
ever, seeing  his  danger,  fired  a  gun,  which  had  the 
desired  effect  of  frightening  the  beast ;  and  the  boy 
then  returned,  somewhat  afraid  of  the  oonsequences 
of  his  ti'espass.  The  captain  reprimanded  him 
sternly  for  conduct  so  unworthy  of  the  office  which 
he  filled,  and  desired  to  know  what  motive  he  could 
have  for  hunting  a  bear.  "  Sir,"  said  he,  pouting 
his  lip,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  when  agitated,  "I 
wished  to  kill  the  bear  that  I  might  carry  the  skin 
to  my  father." 

A  party  were  now  sent  to  an  island,  about  twelve 
miles  off,  (named  "Walden's  island  in  the  chart,  from 
the  midshipman  who  was  entrusted  with  this  ser- 
vice,) to  see  where  the  open  water  lay.  They  came 
back  with  information,  that  the  ice,  though  close  all 
about  them,  was  open  to  the  westward,  round  the 
point  by  which  they  came  in.  They  said  also,  that 
upon  the  island  they  had  had  a  fresh  east  wind. 
This  intelligence  considerably  abated  the  hopes  of 
the  crew ;  for  where  they  lay  it  had  been  almost 
calm,  and  their  main  dependence  had  been  upon 
the  effect  of  an  easterly  wind  in  clearing  the  bay. 
There  was  but  one  alternative,  either  to  wait  the 


/ 


so 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


event  of  the  weather  upon  the  ships,  or  to  betake 
themselves  to  the  boats.  The  likelihood  that  it 
might  be  necessary  to  sacrifice  the  ships  had  been 
foreseen ;  the  boats,  accordingly,  were  adapted, 
both  in  number  and  size,  to  transport,  in  case  of 
emergency,  the  whole  crew ;  and  there  were  Dutch 
whalers  upon  the  coast,  in  which  they  could  all  be 
conveyed  to  Europe.  As  for  wintering  where  they 
were,  that  dreadful  experiment  had  been  already 
tried  too  often.  No  time  was  to  be  lost ;  the  ships 
had  driven  into  shoal  water,  having  but  fourteen 
fathoms.  Should  they,  or  the  ice  to  which  they 
were  fast,  take  the  ground,  they  must  inevitably  be 
lost :  and  at  this  time  they  were  driving  fast  towards 
some  rocks  on  the  N.  E.  Captain  Phipps  had  sent 
for  the  oflScers  of  both  ships,  and  told  them  his  in- 
tention of  preparing  the  boats  for  going  away. 
They  were  immediately  hoisted  out,  and  the  fitting 
begun.  Canvas  bread-bags  were  made,  in  case  it 
should  be  necessary  suddenly  to  desert  the  vessels  ; 
and  men  were  sent  with  the  lead  and  line  to  the 
northward  and  eastward,  to  sound  wherever  they 
found  cracks  in  the  ice,  that  they  might  have  notice 
before  the  ice  took  the  ground ;  for,  in  that  case, 
the  ships  must  have  instantly  been  crushed  or 
overset. 

On  the  7th  of  August  they  began  to  haul  the 
boats  over  the  ice,  Nelson  having  command  of  the 
four-oared  cutter.  The  men  behaved  excellently 
well,  like  true  British  seamen :  they  seemed  recon- 
ciled to  the  thought  of  leaving  the  ships,  and  had 
full  confidence  in  their  oflScers.  About  noon,  the 
ice  appeared  rather  more  open  near  the  vessels  ;  and 
as  the  wind  was  easterly,  though  there  was  but  little 
of  it,  the  sails  were  set,  and  they  got  about  a  mile 
to  the  westward.  They  moved  very  slowly,,  and 
were  not  now  neai'ly  so  far  to  the  westwai'd  as  when 


-V 


yf 


'V;' 


\^ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


21 


etake 
lat  it 
been 
kpted, 
,se  of 
Outch 
all  be 
I  they 
ready 
ships 
[irteen 
I  they 
bly  be 
iwards 
d  sent 
lis  in- 
away. 
fitting 
case  it 
3ssels ; 
to  the 
r  they 
notice 
case, 
led  or 

,ul  the 
of  the 
llently 
recon- 
d  had 
,  the 
IS ;  and 
t  little 
a  mile 
,.  and 
when 


m 


they  were  first  beset.  However,  all  sail  was  kept 
upon  them,  to  force  them  through  whenever  the  ice 
slacked  the  least.  Whatever  exertions  were  made, 
it  could  not  be  possible  to  get  the  boats  to  the 
water's  edge  before  the  14th ;  and  if  the  situation 
of  the  ships  should  not  alter  by  that  time,  it  would 
not  be  justifiable  to  stay  longer  by  them.  The  com- 
mander therefore  resolved  to  carry  on  both  attempts 
together,  moving  the  boats  constantly,  and  taking 
every  opportunity  of  getting  the  ships  through.  A 
party  was  sent  out  next  day  to  the  westward,  to 
examine  the  state  of  the  ice :  they  returned  with 
tidings  that  it  was  very  heavy  and  close,  consisting 
chiefiy  of  large  fields.  The  ships,  however,  moved 
something,  and  the  ice  itself  was  drifting  westward. 
There  was  a  thick  fog,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to 
ascertain  what  advantage  had  been  gained.  It  con- 
tinued on  the  9  th ;  but  the  ships  were  moved  a  little 
through  some  very  small  openings :  the  mist  cleared 
oflP  in  the  afternoon ;  and  it  was  then  perceived  that 
they  had  driven  much  more  than  could  have  been 
expected  to  the  westward,  and  that  the  ice  itself 
had  driven  still  farther.  In  the  course  of  the  day 
they  got  past  the  boats,  and  took  them  on  board 
again.  On  the  morrow  the  wind  sprang  up  to  the 
N.  N.  E.  All  sail  was  set,  and  the  ships  forced 
their  way  through  a  great  deal  of  very  heavy  ice. 
They  frequently  struck,  and  with  such  force,  that 
one  stroke  broke  the  shank  of  the  Racehorse's  best 
bower  anchor ;  but  the  vessels  made  way ;  and  by 
noon  they  had  cleared  the  ice,  and  were  out  at  sea. 
They  next  day  they  anchored  in  Smeerenberg  Har- 
bor, close  to  that  island  of  which  the  westernmost 
point  is  called  Hakluyt's  Headland,  in  honor  of 
the  gi'eat  promoter  and  compiler  of  our  English 
voyages  of  discovery. 
Here  they  remained  for  a  few  days,  that  the  men 


/ 
/ 


IS 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


n 


mfgf#t  r«Bt  after  their  fatigue.  No  insect  was  to  be 
•een  in  fh^t*  ^r^ary  country,  nor  any  species  of  rep- 
tile, not  0 .  /  t  iie  common  earthworm.  Large  bodies 
v>f  ice,  called  icoberga,  filled  up  the  valleys  between 
high  mountains,  bo  dark,  as,  when  contrasted  with 
the  81,  ow,  to  appear  black.  The  color  of  the  ice 
was  a  lively  light  green.  Opposite  to  the  place 
where  they  had  ^xed  their  observatory  was  one  of 
these  icebergs,  above  three  hundred  feet  high :  its 
side  towards  the  sea  was  nearly  perpendicular,  and 
a  stream  of  water  issued  from  it.  Large  pieces  fre- 
quently broke  off,  and  rolled  down  into  the  sea. 
There  was  no  thunder  nor  lightning  during  the 
whole  time  they  were  in  these  latitudes.  The  f?]j.y 
was  generally  loaded  with  hard  white  cloudb,  from 
which  it  was  never  entirely  free  even  in  the  clearest 
weather.  They  always  knew  when  they  were  ap- 
proaching the  ice,  long  before  they  saw  it,  by  a 
bright  appearance  near  the  horizon,  which  the 
Greenlandmen  called  the  blink  of  the  ice.  The 
season  was  now  so  far  advanced,  that  nothing  more 
could  have  been  attempted,  if  indeed  anything  had 
been  left  untried':  but  the  summer  had  been  un- 
usually favoraWe,  and  they  had  carefully  surveyed 
the  wall  of  ice  extending  for  more  than  twenty  de- 
grees between  the  latitudes  of  80°  and  81°,  without 
the  smallest  appearance  of  any  opening. 

The  ships  were  paid  off  shortly  after  their  return 
to  England ;  and  Nelson  was  then  placed  by  his 
uncle  with  Captain'  Farmer,  in  the  Seahorse,  of 
twenty  guns,  then  going  out  to  the  East  Indies  in 
the  squadron  under  Sir  Edward  Hughes.  He  was 
stationed  in  the  foretop  at  wat..  n xl  ratch.  Hia 
good  conduct  attracted  the  atteytio/  '^  the  nn  '  t 
(afterwards  Captain  Surridge) ,  va  v/iioi>e  watch  he 
was ;  and,  upon  his  recommendation,  the  captain 
rated  bim  as  midshipman.    At  this  time  his  coun- 

^  ■    t  .     .  '  ■     \      ■ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


return 

by  his 

■:se,  of 

dies  in 

e  was 

Hi9 

tch  he 

aptain 

coun- 


tenance was  florid,  and  his  appearance  rather  stoat 
and  athletic :  but  when  he  had  been  about  ei|];hteen 
months  in  1  I'b'a,  he  felt  the  effects  of  that  climate, 
so  perilous  to  European  constitutions.  The  disease 
baffled  all  power  oi  medicine ;  he  was  reduced 
almost  to  a  skeleton ;  the  use  of  his  limbs  was  for 
some  time  entirely  lost;  and  the  only  hope  that 
remained,  was  from  a  voyage  home.  Accordingly 
he  was  iDrought  home  by  Captain  Pigot,  in  the 
Dolphin ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  attentive  and 
careful  kindness  of  that  officer  on  the  way,  Nelson 
would  never  have  lived  to  reach  his  native  shores. 
He  had  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Sir  Charles 
Pole,  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge,  and  other  distin- 
guished officers,  then,  like  himself,  beginning  their 
career:  he  had  left  them  pursuing  that  career  in 
full  enjoyment  of  health  and  hope,  j  id  was  return- 
ing from  a  country  in  which  all  l/iings  were  to 
him  new  and  interesting,  with  a  body  broken  down 
by  sickness,  and  spirits  which  had  b  mk  with  his 
strength.  Long  afterwards,  when  the  iiame  of  Nel- 
son was  known  as  widely  as  that  of  England  itself, 
he  spoke  of  the  feelings  which  he  had  a  t  this  time 
endured.  "I  felt  impressed,"  said  he.  "with  a 
feeling  that  I  should  never  rise  in  my  profession. 
My  mind  was  staggered  with  a  view  of  tlie  difficul- 
ties I  had  to  surmount,  and  the  little  interest  I  pos- 
sessed. I  could  discover  no  means  of  reat:hing  the 
object  of  my  ambition.  After  a  long  and  gloomy 
reverie,  in  which  I  almost  wished  myself  ov^  rboard, 
a  sudden  glow  of  patriotism  was  kindled  within  me, 
and  presented  my  king  and  country  as  my  matron. 
'  Well,  then,'  I  exclaimed,  *  I  will  be  a  hero  !  and, 
confiding  in  Providence,  brave  every  danger ! ' " 

Long  afterwards,  Nelson  loved  to  speak  of  the 
feeling  of  that  moment :  and  from  that  time,  he 
often  said,  a  radiant  orb  was  suspended  in  his  mind's 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


eye,  which  urged  him  onward  to  renown.  The  state 
of  mind  in  which  these  feelings  began,  is  what  the 
mystics  mean  by  their  season  of  darkness  and  deser- 
tion. If  the  animal  spirits  fail,  they  represent  it  as 
an  actual  temptation.  The  enthusiasm  of  Nelson's 
nature  had  taken  a  different  direction,  but  its  essence 
was  the  same.  He  knew  to  what  the  previous  state 
of  dejection  was  to  be  attributed ;  that  an  enfeebled 
body,  and  a  mind  depressed,  had  cast  this  shade 
over  his  soul :  but  he  always  seemed  willing  to  be- 
lieve, that  the  sunshine  which  succeeded  bore  with 
it  a  prophetic  glory,  and  that  the  light  which  led 
him  on,  was  "  light  from  heaven." 

His  interest,  however,  was  far  better  than  he 
imagined.  During  his  absence  Captain  Suckling 
had  been  made  comptroller  of  the  navy  ;  his  health 
had  materially  improved  upon  the  voyage ;  and,  as 
soon  as  the  Dolphin  was  paid  off,  he  was  appointed 
acting  lieutenant  in  the  Worcester,  sixty-four,  Cap- 
tain Mark  Robinson,  then  going  out  with  convoy  to 
Gibraltar.  Soon  after  his  return  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1777,  he  passed  his  examination  for  a  lieu- 
tenancy. Captain  Suckling  sat  at  the  head  of  the 
board :  and  when  the  examination  had  ended,  in  a 
manner  highly  honorable  to  Nelson,  rose  from  his 
seat,  and  introduced  him  to  the  examining  captains 
as  his  nephew.  They  expressed  their  wonder  that 
he  had  not  informed  them  of  this  relationship  be- 
fore ;  he  replied  that  he  did  not  wish  the  younker 
to  be  favored ;  he  knew  his  nephew  would  pass  a 
good  examination,  and  he  had  not  been  deceived. 
The  next  day  Nelson  received  his  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  of  the  Lowestoffe  frigate.  Captain 
William  Locker,  then  fitting  out  for  Jamaica. 

American  and  French  privateers,  under  American 
colors,  were  at  that  time  harassing  our  trade  in  the 
West  Indies :  even  a  frigate  was  not  sufficiently  ac- 


asaafa^p;;. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


25 


tive  for  Nelson,  and  he  repeatedly  got  appointed  to 
the  command  of  one  of  the  Lowestoffe's  tenders. 
During  one  of  their  cruises,  the  Lowestoffe  captured 
an  American  letter-of -marque :  it  was  blowing  a 
gale,  and  a  heavy  sea  running.  The  first  lieutenant 
being  ordered  to  board  the  prize,  went  below  to  put 
on  his  hanger.  It  happened  to  be  mislaid ;  and, 
while  he  was  seeking  it.  Captain  Locker  came  on 
deck.  Perceiving  the  boat  still  alongside,  and  in 
danger  every  moment  of  being  swamped,  and  being 
extremely  anxious  that  the  privateer  should  be  in- 
stantly taken  in  charge,  because  he  feared  that  it 
would  otherwise  founder,  he  exclaimed,  *'  Have  I  no 
oflScer  in  the  ship  who  can  board  the  prize  ?  "  Nel- 
son did  not  offer  himself  immediately,  waiting,  with 
his  usual  sense  of  propriety,  for  the  first  lieutenant's 
return :  but  hearing  the  master  volunteer,  he  jumped 
into  the  boat,  saying,  "  It  is  my  turn  now ;  and  if  I 
come  back,  it  is  yours.**  The  American,  who  had 
carried  a  heavy  press  of  sail,  in  hope  of  escaping, 
was  so  completely  water-logged,  that  the  Lowe- 
stoffe*8  boat  went  in  on  deck,  and  out  again,  with 
the  sea. 

About  this  time  he  lost  his  uncle.  Captain 
Locker,  however,  who  had  perceived  the  excellent 
qualities  of  Nelson,  and  formed  a  friendship  for 
him,  which  continued  during  his  life,  recommended 
him  warmly  to  Sir  Peter  Parker,  then  commander-  • 
in-chief  upon  that  station.  In  consequence  of  this 
recommendation  he  was  removed  into  the  Bristol 
flag-ship,  and  Lieutenant  Cuthbert  CoUingwood 
succeeded  him  in  the  Lowestoffe.  He  soon  became 
first  lieutenant ;  and,  on  the  8th  of  December, 
1778,  was  appointed  commander  of  the  Badger 
brig ;  CoUingwood  again  succeeding  him  in  the 
Bristol.  While  the  Badger  was  lying  in  Montego 
Bay,  Jamaica,  the  Glasgow,  of  twenty  guns,  came 


/ 


ii   ' 


26  THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 

in  and  anchored  there,  and  in  two  hours  was  in 
flames,  the  steward  having  set  fire  to  her  while 
stealing  rum  out  of  the  after-hold.  Her  crew  were 
leaping  into  the  water,  when  Nelson  came  up  in  his 
boats,  made  them  throw  their  powder  overboard, 
and  point  their  guns  upward :  and,  by  his  presence 
of  mind  and  personal  exertions,  prevented  the  loss 
of  life  which  would  otherwise  have  ensued.  On  the 
11th  of  June,  1779,  he  was  made  post  into  the 
Hinchinbrool:,  of  twenty-eight  guns,  an  enemy's 
merchant-man,  sheathed  with  wood,  which  had  been 
taken  into  the  service.  A  short  time  after  he  left 
the  Lowestoflie,  that  ship,  with  a  small  squadron, 
stormed  the  fort  of  St.  Fernando  de  Omoa,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Bay  of  Honduras,  and  captured 
some  register  ships  which  were  lying  under  its  gups. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty  quintals  of  quicksilver,  aai 
three  million  of  piastres,  were  the  reward  of  thife 
enterprise :  and  it  is  characteristic  of  Nelson,  that 
the  chance  by  which  he  missed  a  share  in  such  a 
prize,  is  never  mentioned  in  any  of  his  letters ;  nor 
is  it  likely  that  it  ever  excited  even  a  momentary 
feeling  of  vexation. 

Nelson  was  fortunate  in  possessing  good  interest 
at  the  time  when  it  could  be  most  serviceable  to 
him :  his  promotion  had  been  almost  as  rapid  as  it 
could  be ;  and  before  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  had  gained  that  rank  which  brought 
all  the  honors  of  the  service  within  his  reach.  No 
opportunity,  indeed,  had  yet  been  given  him  of  dis- 
tinguishing himself ;  but  he  was  thoroughly  master 
of  his  profession,  and  his  zeal  and  ability  were 
acknowledged  wherever  he  was  known.  Count 
d'Estaing,  with  a  fleet  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  sail,  men  of  war  and  transports,  and  a  reputed 
force  of  five-and-twenty  thousand  men,  threatened 
Jamaica  from   St.  Domingo.      Nelson   offered  his 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


27 


jrest 
to 
IS  it 
|e  of 
lught 
No 
dis- 
Lster 
re 
lount 
mty- 
juted 
lened 
his 


services  to  the  Admiral  and  to  Governor  General 
Bailing,  and  was  appointed  to  command  the  bat- 
teries of  Fort  Charles,  at  Port  Royal.  Not  more 
than  seven  thousand  men  could  be  mustered  for  the 
defence  of  the  island, — a  number  wholly  inadequate 
to  resist  the  force  which  threatened  them.  Of  this 
Nelson  was  so  well  aware,  that  when  he  wrote  to 
his  friends  in  England,  he  told  them  they  must  not 
be  surprised  to  hear  of  his  learning  to  speak  French. 
D'Estaing,  however,  was  either  not  aware  of  his  own 
superiority,  or  not  equal  to  the  command  with  which 
he  was  entrusted :  he  attempted  nothing  with  this 
formidable  armament;  and  General  Dalling  was 
thus  left  to  execute  a  project  which  he  had  foimed 
against  the  Spanish  colonies. 

This  project  was,  to  take  Fort  San  Juan,  on  the 
river  of  that  name,  which  flows  from  Lake  Nicara- 
gua into  the  Atlantic ;  make  himself  master  of  the 
lake  itself,  and  of  the  cities  of  Grenada  and  Leon ; 
and  thus  cut  off  the  communication  of  the  Spaniards 
between  their  northern  and  southern  possessions  in 
America.  Here  it  is  that  a  canal  between  the  two 
seas  may  most  easily  be  formed ; — a  work  more  im- 
portant in  its  consequences  than  any  which  has  ever 
yet  been  effected  by  human  power.  Lord  George 
Germaine,  at  that  time  secretary  of  state  for  the 
American  department,  approved  the  plan ;  and  as 
discontents  at  that  time  were  known  to  prevail  in 
the  Nuevo  Reyno,  in  Popayan,  and  in  Peru,  the 
more  sanguine  part  of  the  English  began  to  di'eam 
of  acquiring  an  empire  in  one  part  of  America  more 
extensive  than  that  which  they  were  on  the  point  of 
losing  in  another.  General  Balling's  plans  were 
well  formed  ;  but  the  history  and  the  nature  of  the 
country  had  not  been  studied  as  accurately  as  its 
geography  :  the  difficulties  which  occurred  in  fitting 
out  the  expedition  delayed  it  till  the  season  was  too 


f 


28 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


! 


far  advanced ;  and  the  men  were  thus  sent  to  ad- 
venture themselves,  not  so  much  against  an  enemy, 
whom  they  would  have  beaten,  as  against  a  climate, 
which  would  do  the  enemy's  work. 

Early  in  the  year  1780,  five  hundred  men,  des- 
tined for  this  service,  were  convoyed  by  Nelson 
from  Port  Royal  to  Cape  Gracias  a  Dios,  in  Hon- 
duras.    Not  a  native  was  to  be  seen  when  they 
landed :  they  had  been  taught  that  the  English  came 
with  no  other  intent  than  that  of  enslaving  them, 
and  sending  them  to  Jamaica.     After  a  while,  how- 
ever, one  of  them  ventured  down,  confiding  in  his 
knowledge  of  one  of  the  party ;  and  by  his  means 
the  neighboring  tribes  were  conciliated  with  presents, 
and  brought  in.     The  troops  were  encamped  on  a 
swampy  and  unwholesome  plain,  where  they  were 
joined  by  a  party  of  the  79th  regiment,  from  Black 
River,  who  were  already  in  a  deplorable  state  of 
sickness.     Having  remained   here   a  month,   they 
proceeded,   anchoring  frequently,  along  the   Mos- 
quito shore,  to  collect  their  Indian  allies,  who  were 
to  furnish  proper  boats  for  the  river,  and  to  accom- 
pany them.      They  reached  the  river   San  Juan, 
Mf'Tch  24th ;   and  here,  according  to  his   orders. 
Nelson's   services  were    to  terminate ;   but  not  a 
man  in  the  expedition  had  ever  been  up  the  river,  or 
knew  the  distances  of   any   fortification  from  its 
mouth :  and  he  not  being  one  who  would  turn  back 
when  so  much  was  to  be  done,  resolved  to  carry  the 
soldiers  up.     About  two  hundred,  therefore,  were 
embarked  in  the  Mosquito  shore  craft,  and  in  two 
of  the  Hinchinbrook's  boats,  and  they  began  their 
voyage.     It  was  the  latter  end  of  the  dry  season, 
the  worst  time  for  such  an  expedition ;  the  river 
was  consequently  low :  Indians  were  sent  forward 
through  narrow  channels  between  shoals  and  banks, 
and  the  men  were  frequently  obliged  to  quit  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


LCk 

of 

ley 

lOS- 

ere 

>m- 

an, 

jrs, 
a 
or 
its 

ack 

the 
ere 
wo 
eir 
on, 
ver 
ard 
ks, 
the 


boats,  and  exert  their  utmost  strength  to  drag  or 
thrust  them  along.  This  labor  continued  for  seve- 
ral days,  when  they  came  into  deeper  water ;  they 
had  then  currents  and  rapids  to  contend  with,  which 
would  have  been  insurmountable,  but  for  the  skill 
of  the  Indians  in  such  difficulties.  The  brunt  of 
the  labor  was  borne  by  them  and  by  the  sailors — 
men  never  accustomed  to  stand  aloof  when  any 
exertion  of  strength  or  hardihood  is  required.  The 
soldiers,  less  accustomed  to  rely  upon  themselves, 
were  of  little  use.  But  all  equally  endured  the  vio- 
lent heat  of  the  sun,  rendered  more  intense  by  being 
reflected  from  the  white  shoals,  while  the  high  woods, 
on  both  sides  of  the  river,  were  frequently  so  close, 
as  to  prevent  all  refreshing  circulation  of  air ;  and 
during  the  night  all  were  equally  exposed  to  the 
heavy  and  unwholesome  dews. 

On  the  9th  of  April  they  reached  an  island  in  the 
river,  called  San  Bartolomeo,  which  the  Spaniards 
had  fortified,  as  an  out-post,  with  a  small  semi- 
circular battery,  mounting  nine  or  ten  swivels,  and 
manned  with  sixteen  or  eighteen  men.  It  com- 
manded the  river  in  a  rapid  and  difficult  part  of  the 
navigation.  Nelson,  at  the  head  of  a  few  of  his 
seamen,  leaped  upon  the  beach.  The  ground  upon 
which  he  sprung  was  so  muddy,  that  he  had  some 
difficulty  in  extricating  himself,  and  lost  his  shoes : 
bare-footed,  however,  he  advanced,  and  in  his  own 
phrase,  hoarded  the  battery.  In  this  resolute  attempt 
he  was  bravely  supported  by  the  well-known  Des- 
pard,  at  that  time  a  captain  in  the  army.  The  castle 
of  San  Juan  is  situated  about  sixteen  miles  higher 
up :  the  stores  and  ammunition,  however,  were 
landed  a  few  miles  below  the  castle,  and  the  men 
had  to  march  through  woods  almost  impassable. 
One  of  the  men  was  bitten  under  the  eye  by  a 
snake,  which  dai'ted  upon  him  from  the  bough  of  a 


wmmm 


i^mm«nHii«a 


illli 


80 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


tree.  He  was  unable  to  proceed  from  the  violence 
of  the  pain :  and  when,  after  a  short  while,  some 
of  his  comrades  were  sent  back  to  assist  him,  he 
was  dead,  and  the  body  already  putrid.  Nelson 
himself  narrowly  escaped  a  similar  fate.  He  had 
ordered  his  hammock  to  be  slung  under  some  trees, 
being  excessively  fatigued,  and  was  sleeping,  when 
a  monitory  lizard  passed  across  his  face.  The 
Indians  happily  observed  the  reptile,  and,  knowing 
what  it  indicated,  awoke  him.  He  started  up,  and 
found  one  of  the  deadliest  serpents  of  the  country 
coiled  up  at  his  feet.  He  suffered  from  poison  of 
another  kind ;  for,  drinking  at  a  spring  in  which 
some  boughs  of  the  manchineel  had  been  thrown, 
the  effects  were  so  severe,  as,  in  the  opinion  of 
some  of  his  friends,  to  inflict  a  lasting  injury  upon 
his  constitution. 

The  castle  of  San  Juan  is  thirtv-two  miles  below 
the  Lake  of  Nicaragua,  from  which  the  river  issues, 
and  sixty-nine  fi'om  its  mouth.  Boats  reach  the 
sea  from  thence  in  a  day  and  a  half ;  but  their  navi- 
gation back,  even  when  unladen,  is  the  labor  of  nine 
days.  The  English  appeared  before  it  on  the  11th, 
two  days  after  they  had  taken  San  Bartolomeo. 
Nelson's  advice  was,  that  it  should  instantly  be 
carried  by  assault :  but  Nelson  was  not  the  com- 
mander ;  and  it  was  thought  proper  to  observe  all 
the  formalities  of  a  siege.  Ten  days  were  wasted 
before  this  could  be  commenced :  it  was  a  work 
more  of  fatigue  than  of  danger;  but  fatigue  was 
more  to  be  dreaded  than  the  enemy ;  the  rains  set 
in :  and,  could  the  garrison  have  held  out  a  little 
longer,  disease  would  have  rid  them  of  their  in- 
vaders. Even  the  Indians  sunk  under  it,  the  vic- 
tims of  unusual  exertion,  and  of  their  own  excesses. 
The  place  surrendered  on  the  24th.  But  victory 
procured   to  the   conquerors  none  of    that  relief 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


81 


ittle 
in- 


tory 
elief 


which  had  been  expected ;  the  castle  was  worse 
than  a  prison ;  and  it  contained  nothing  which 
could  contribute  to  the  recovery  of  the  sick,  or 
the  preservation  of  those  who  were  yet  unaffected. 
The  huts,  which  served  for  hospitals,  were  sur- 
rounded with  filth  and  with  the  putrefying  hides 
of  slaughtered  cattle — almost  sufficient  of  them- 
selves to  have  engendered  pestilence :  and  when, 
at  last,  orders  were  given  to  erect  a  convenient  hos- 
pital, the  contagion  had  become  so  general,  that 
there  were  none  who  could  work  at  it ;  for,  besides 
the  few  who  were  able  to  perform  garrison  duty, 
there  were  not  orderly  men  enough  to  assist  the 
sick.  Added  to  these  evils,  there  was  the  want  of 
all  needful  remedies ;  for,  though  the  expedition 
had  been  amply  provided  with  hospital  stores, 
river  craft  enough  had  not  been  procured  for 
ti'ansporting  the  requisite  baggage  ;  and  when  much 
was  to  be  left  behind,  provision  for  sickness  was 
that  which  of  all  things  men  in  health  would  be 
most  ready  to  leave.  Now,  when  these  medicines 
were  required,  the  river  was  swollen,  and  so  turbu- 
lent, that  its  upward  navigation  was  almost  imprac- 
ticable. At  length  even  the  task  of  burying  the 
dead  was  more  than  the  living  could  perform,  and 
the  bodies  were  tossed  into  the  stream,  or  left  for 
beasts  of  prey,  and  for  the  gallinazos — those  dread- 
ful carrion-birds,  which  do  not  always  wait  for  death 
before  they  begin  theii'  work.  Five  months  the  Eng- 
lish persisted  in  what  may  be  called  this  war  against 
nature ;  they  then  left  a  few  men,  who  seemed  proof 
against  the  climate,  to  retain  the  castle  till  the 
Spaniards  should  choose  to  retake  it,  and  make 
them  prisoners.  The  rest  abandoned  their  baleful 
conquest.  Eighteen  hundred  men  were  sent  to  dif- 
ferent posts  upon  this  wretched  expedition:  not 
more  than  three  hundred  and  eighty  ever  returned. 


ff^ 


32 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


The  Hinchinbrook's  complement  consisted  of  two 
hundred  men ;  eighty-seven  took  to  their  beds  in 
one  night,  and  of  the  whole  crew  not  more  than  ten 
survived. 

Nelson  himself  was  saved  by  a  timely  removal. 
In  a  few  days  after  the  commencement  of  the  siege, 
he  was  seized  with  the  prevailing  dysentery :  mean- 
time Captain  Glover  (son  of  the  author  of  "  Leoni- 
das  ")  died,  and  Nelson  was  appointed  to  succeed 
him  in  the  Janus,  of  forty-four  guns.  He  returned 
to  the  harbor  the  day  before  San  Juan  surrendered, 
and  immediately  sailed  for  Jamaica  in  the  sloop 
which  brought  the  news  of  his  appointment.  He 
was,  however,  so  greatly  reduced  by  the  disorder, 
that  when  they  reached  Port  Royal  he  was  carried 
ashore  in  his  cot ;  and  jfinding  himself,  after  a  partial 
amendment,  unable  to  retain  the  command  of  his 
new  ship,  he  was  compelled  to  ask  leave  to  return  to 
England  as  the  only  means  of  recovery.  Captain 
(afterwards  Admiral)  Cornwallis  took  him  home  in 
the  Lion;  and  to  his  care  and  kindness  Nelson 
believed  himself  indebted  for  his  life.  He  went 
immediately  to  Bath,  in  a  miserable  state ;  so  help- 
less, that  he  was  carried  to  and  from  his  bed ;  and 
the  act  of  moving  him  produced  the  most  violent 
pain.  In  three  months,  he  recovered,  and  imme- 
•  diately  hastened  to  London,  and  applied  for  employ- 
ment. After  an  interval  of  about  four  months, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Albemarle,  of  twenty-eight 
guns,  a  French  merchantman,  which  had  been  pur- 
chased from  the  captors  for  the  king's  service. 

His  health  was  not  yet  thoroughly  re-established ; 
and  while  he  was  employed  in  getting  his  ship  ready, 
he  again  became  so  ill  as  hardly  to  be  able  to  keep 
out  of  bed.  Yet  in  this  state,  still  suffering  from 
the  fatal  effect  of  a  West  Indian  climate,  as  if  it 
might  almost  be  supposed,  he  said,  to  try  his  const!- 


THE  LirE  OP  NELSON. 


88 


two 
s  in 
L  ten 

)val. 

Lege, 

lean- 

eoni- 

3ceed 

irned 

lered, 

sloop 

He 
Drder, 
arried     \ 
)artial 
of  his 
;urn  to 
aptain 
»me  in 
J^elson 

went 

help- 
and 
violent 
imme- 
mploy- 
lonths, 
y-eigh.t 
en  pur- 

e. 
lished ; 

ready, 
to  keep 
ig  from 
as  if  it 

consti- 


*  > 


tution,  he  was  sent  to  the  North  Seas,  and  kept 
there  the  whole  winter.  The  asperii  with  which 
he  mentioned  this  so  many  years  afterwards,  evinces 
how  deeply  he  resented  a  mode  of  conduct  equally 
cruel  to  the  individral  and  detrimental  to  the  service. 
It  was  during  the  armed  neutrality  ;  and  when  they 
anchored  off  Elsineur,  the  Danish  admiral  sent  on 
board,  desiring  to  be  informed  what  ships  had  ar- 
rived, and  to  have  their  force  written  down.  "  The 
Albemarle,"  said  Nelson  to  the  messenger,  *'is  one 
of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ships :  you  are  at  liberty, 
sir,  to  count  the  guns  as  you  go  down  the  side :  and 
you  may  assure  the  Danish  admiral,  that,  if  neces- 
sary, they  shall  all  be  well  served."  During  this 
voyage  he  gained  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
Danish  coast,  and  its  soundings :  greatly  to  the 
advantage  of  his  country  in  after  times.  The  Albe- 
marle was  not  a  good  ship,  and  was  several  times 
nearly  overset,  in  consequence  of  the  masts  having 
been  made  much  too  long  for  her.  On  her  return 
to  England  they  were  shortened,  and  some  other 
improvements  made,  at  Nelson's  suggestion.  Still 
he  always  insisted  that  her  first  owners,  the  French, 
had  taught  her  to  run  away,  as  she  was  never  a 
good  sailer,  except  when  going  directly  before  the 
wind. 

On  their  return  to  the  Downs,  while  he  was 
ashore  visiting  the  senior  officer,  there  came  on  so 
heavy  a  gale,  that  almost  all  the  vessels  drove,  and 
a  store  ship  came  athwart-hawse  of  the  Albemarle. 
Nelson  feared  she  would  drive  on  the  Goodwin 
Sands :  he  ran  to  the  beach ;  but  even  the  Deal 
boatmen  thought  it  impossible  to  get  on  board,  such 
was  the  violence  of  the  storm.  At  length  some  of 
the  most  intrepid  offered  to  make  the  attempt  for 
fifteen  guineas :  and,  to  the  astonishment  and  fear 
of  all  the  beholders,  he  embarked  during  the  height 
3 


84 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


■        / 


of  the  tempest.  With  great  difflcnlty  and  imminent 
danger  he  succeeded  in  reaching  her.  She  lost  her 
bowsprit  and  foremast,  but  escaped  further  injury. 
He  was  now  ordered  to  Quebec ;  where,  his  surgeon 
told  him,  he  would  certainly  be  laid  up  by  the  cli- 
mate. Many  of  his  friends  urged  him  to  represent 
this  to  Admiral  Keppel :  but,  having  received  his 
orders  from  Lord  Sandwich,  there  appeared  to  him 
an  indelicacy  in  applying  to  his  successor  to  have 
them  altered. 

Accordingly  he  sailed  for  Canada.  During  her 
first  cruise  on  that  station,  the  Albemarle  captured 
a  fishing  schooner,  which  contained,  in  her  cargo, 
nearly  all  the  property  that  her  master  possessed, 
and  the  poor  fellow  had  a  large  family  at  home, 
anxiously  expecting  him.  Nelson  employed  him  as 
a  pilot  in  Boston  Bay,  then  restored  him  the  schooner 
and  cargo,  and  gave  him  a  certificate  to  secure  him 
against  being  captured  by  any  other  vessel.  The 
man  came  off  afterwards  to  the  Albemarle,  at  the 
hazard  of  his  life,  with  a  present  of  sheep,  poultry, 
and  fresh  provisions.  A  most  valuable  supply  it 
proved ;  for  the  scurvy  was  ri.^ing  on  board ;  this 
was  in  the  middle  of  August,  and  the  ship's  com- 
pany had  not  had  a  fresh  meal  since  the  beginning 
of  April.  The  certificate  was  preserved  at  Boston 
in  memory  of  an  act  of  unusual  generosity ;  and 
now  that  the  fame  of  Nelson  has  given  interest  to 
everything  connected  with  his  name,  it  is  regarded 
as  a  relic.  The  Albemarle  had  a  narrow  escape 
upon  this  cruise.  Four  French  sail  of  the  line  and 
a  frigate,  which  had  come  out  of  Boston  Harbor, 
gave  chase  to  her ;  and  Nelson,  perceiving  that  they 
beat  him  in  sailing,  boldly  ran  among  the  numerous 
shoals  of  St.  George's  Bank,  confiding  in  his  own 
skill  in  pilotage.  Captain  Salter,  in  the  St.  Marga- 
retta,  had  escaped  the  French  fleet,  by  a  similar 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSO> 


manoBUvre,  not  long  before.  The  frigate  alone  con- 
tinued warily  to  pursue  him ;  but  as  soon  as  he  per- 
ceived that  this  enemy  was  unsupported,  he  short- 
ened sail,  and  hove  to :  upon  which  the  Frenchman 
thought  it  advisable  to  give  over  the  pursuit,  and 
sail  in  quest  of  his  consorts. 

Xt  Quebec,  Nelson  became  acquainted  with  Alex- 
ander Davison ;  by  whose  interference  he  was  pre- 
vented from  making  what  would  have  been  called  an 
imprudent  marriage.  The  Albemarle  was  about  to 
leave  the  station,  her  captain  had  taken  leave  of  his 
friends,  and  was  gone  down  the  river  to  the  place 
of  anchorage  :  when,  the  next  morning,  as  Davison 
was  walking  on  the  beach,  to  his  surprise  he  saw 
Nelson  coming  back  in  his  boat.  Upon  inquiring 
the  cause  of  his  re-appearance.  Nelson  took  his 
arm,  to  walk  towards  the  town,  and  told  him  he 
found  it  utterly  impossible  to  leave  Quebec  without 
again  seeing  the  woman  whose  society  had  contrib- 
uted so  much  to  his  happiness  there,«and  offering 
her  his  hand.  "  If  you  do,"  said  his  friend,  "  your 
utter  ruin  must  inevitably  follow."  *'  Then  let  it 
follow,"  cried  Nelson,  "  for  I  am  resolved  to  do  it." 
*' And  I,"  replied  Davison,  "  am  resolved  you  shall 
not."  Nelson,  however,  upon  this  occasion,  was 
less  resolute  than  his  friend,  and  suffered  himself  to 
be  led  back  to  the  boat. 

The  Albemarle  was  under  orders  to  convoy  a  fleet 
of  transports  to  New  York.  "  A  very  pretty  job," 
said  her  captain,  "  at  this  late  season  of  the  year," 
(October  was  far  advanced,)  "  for  our  sails  are  at 
this  moment  frozen  to  the  yards."  On  his  arrival 
at  Sandy  Hook,  he  waited  on  the  commander-in- 
chief.  Admiral  Digby,  who  told  him  he  was  come  on 
a  fine  station  for  making  prize-money.  "  Yes,  sir," 
Nelson  made  answer ;  "  but  the  West  Indies  is  the 
station  for  honor."     Lord  Hood,  with  a  detachment 


80 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


/'* 


It 


of  Rodney's  victorious  fleet,  was  at  that  time  in 
Sandy  Hook :  he  had  been  intimate  with  Captain 
Suckling ;  and  Nelson,  who  was  desirous  of  nothing 
but  honor,  requested  him  to  ask  for  the  Albemarle, 
that  he  might  go  to  that  station  where  it  was  most 
likely  to  be  obtained.  Admiral  Digby  reluctantly 
parted  with  him.  His  professional  merit  was  already 
well  known :  and  Lord  Hood,  on  introducing  him  to 
Prince  William  Henry,  as  the  Duke  of  Clarence  was 
then  called,  told  the  prince,  if  he  wished  to  ask  any 
question  respecting  naval  tactics,  Captain  Nelson 
could  give  him  as  much  information  as  any  officer 
in  the  fleet.  The  duke,  who,  to  his  own  honor, 
became  from  that  time  the  firm  friend  of  Nelson, 
describes  him  as  appearing  the  merest  boy  of  a  cap- 
tain he  had  ever  seen,  dressed  in  a  full  lace  uniform, 
an  old  fashioned  waistcoat  with  long  flaps,  and  his 
lank  unpowdered  hair  tied  in  a  stiff  Hessian  tail  of 
extraordinary  length  ;  making  altogether  so  remark- 
able a  figure,  "  that,"  says  the  duke,  "  I  had  never 
seen  anything  like  it  before,  nor  could  I  imagine 
who  he  was,  nor  what  he  came  about.  But  his 
address  and  conversation  were  irresistibly  pleasing ; 
and  when  he  spoke  on  professional  subjects,  it  was 
with  an  enthusiasm  that  showed  he  was  no  common 
being." 

It  was  expected  that  the  French  would  attempt 
some  of  the  passages  between  the  Bahamas :  and 
Lord  Hood,  thinking  of  this,  said  to  Nelson,  "  I 
suppose,  sir,  from  the  length  of  time  you  were 
cruising  among  the  Bahama  Keys,  you  must  be  a 
good  pilot  there."  He  replied,  with  that  constant 
readiness*  to  render  justice  to  every  man,  which  was 
so  conspicuous  in  all  his  conduct  through  life,  that 
he  was  well  acquainted  with  them  himself,  but  that 
in  that  respect  his  second  lieutenant  was  far  his 
superior.     The  French  got  into  Puerto  Cabello  on 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


81 


the  coast  of  Venezuela.  Nelson  was  crnising  be- 
tween that  port  and  La  Guayra,  under  French  col- 
ors, for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  information,  when 
a  king's  launch,  belonging  to  the  Spaniards,  passed 
noar,  and  being  hailed  in  French,  came  alongside 
\N  ithout  suspicion,  and  answered  all  questions  that 
were  asked  concerning  the  number  and  force  of  the 
enemy's  ships.  The  crew,  however,  were  not  a 
little  surprised  when  they  were  taken  on  board,  and 
found  themselves  prisoners.  One  of  the  party  went 
by  the  name  of  the  Count  de  Deux  Fonts.  He 
was,  however,  a  prince  of  the  German  empire,  and 
brother  to  the  heir  of  the  Electorate  of  Bavaria: 
his  companions  were  French  officers  of  distinction, 
and  men  of  science,  who  had  been  collecting  speci- 
mens in  the  various  branches  of  natural  history. 
Nelson  having  entertained  them  with  the  best  his 
table  could  afford,  told  them  they  were  at  liberty  to 
depart  with  their  boat  and  all  that  it  contained :  he 
only  required  them  to  promise  that  they  would  con- 
sider themselves  as  prisoners,  if  the  commander-in- 
chief  should  refuse  to  acquiesce  in  their  being  thus 
liberated :  a  circumstance  which  was  not  by  any 
means  likely  to  happen.  Tidings  soon  arrived  that 
the  preliminaries  of  peace  had  been  signed;  and 
the  Albemarle  returned  to  England,  and  was  paid 
off.  Nelson's  first  business,  after  he  got  to  Eng- 
land, even  before  he  went  to  see  his  relations,  was 
to  attempt  to  get  the  wages  due  to  his  men,  for  the 
various  ships  in  which  they  had  served  during  the 
war.  "The  disgust  of  seamen  to  the  navy,"  he 
said,  "  was  all  owing  to  th^  infernal  plan  of  turn- 
ing them  over  from  ship  to  ship ;  so  that  men  could 
not  be  attached  to  the  officers,  nor  the  officers  care 
the  least  about  the  men."  Yet  he  himself  was  so 
beloved  by  his  men,  that  his  whole  ship's  company 
offered,  if  he  could  get  a  ship,  to  enter  for  her 


■■■-J  r*.f^.T:.^ ; 


i 

■4 


:» 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


i»  ,■ 


immediately.  He  was  now,  for  the  first  time,  pre- 
sented at  coiirt.  After  going  through  this  ceremony, 
he  dined  with  his  friend  Davison,  at  Lincoln's  Inn. 
As  soon  as  he  entered  the  chambers,  he  threw  off 
what  he  called  his  iron-bound  coat,  and  putting 
himself  at  ease  in  a  dressing-gown,  passed  the 
remainder  of  the  day  in  talking  over  all  that  had 
befallen  them  since  they  parted  on  the  shore  of  the 
River  St.  Lawrence.  -     v    ,;     • 


7  y- 


re- 

ay »  ,      • ., 

an.  v 

off ' 

ing      ' 

the        ; 

bad 

the 

rli*^' 


C/tase  of  a  French  Frigate. 


r- 


CHAPTER  n. 

«*T  HAVE  closed  the  war,"  said  Nelson,  in  one  of 
•^  his  letters,  "  without  a  fortune  ;  but  there  is 
not  a  speck  in  my  character.  True  honor,  I  hope, 
predominates  in  my  mind  far  above  riches."  He 
did  not  apply  for  a  ship,  because  he  was  not  wealthy 
enough  to  live  on  board  in  the  manner  which  was 
then  become  customary.  Finding  it,  therefore,  pru- 
dent to  economise  on  his  half-pay  during  the  peace, 
he  went  to  France,  in  company  with  Captain  Mac- 
namara,  of  the  navy,  and  took  lodgings  at  St. 
Omer's.  The  death  of  his  favorite  sister,  Anne, 
who  died  in  consequence  of  going  out  of  the  ball- 
room, at  Bath,  when  heated  with  dancing,  affected 
his  father  so  much,  that  it  had  nearly  occasioned 


40 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


■  t 


U:. 


i^. 


him  to  return  in  a  few  weeks.  Time,  however,  and 
reason  and  religion,  overcame  this  gi'ief  in  the  old 
man ;  and  Nelson  continued  at  St.  Omer^  long 
enough  to  fall  in  love  with  the  daughter  of  an  Eng- 
lish clergyman.  This  second  attachment  appears 
to  have  been  less  ardent  than  the  first ;  for,  upon 
weighing  the  evils  of  a  straitened  income  to  a  mar- 
ried man,  he  thought  it  better  to  leave  France, 
assigning  to  his  friends  something  in  his  accounts 
as  the  cause.  This  prevented  him  from  accepting 
an  invitation  from  the  Count  of  Deux  Fonts  to 
visit  him  at  Faris,  couched  in  the  handsomest 
terms  of  acknowledgment  for  the  treatment  which 
he  had  received  on  board  the  Albemarle. 

The  self- constraint  which  Nelson  exerted  in  sub- 
duing this  attachment,  made  him  naturally  desire  to 
be  at  sea :  and  when,  upon  visiting  Lord  Howe  at 
the  Admiralty,  he  was  asked  if  he  wished  to  be  em- 
ployed, he  made  answer  that  he  did.  Accordingly, 
in  March,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Boreas,  twenty- 
eight  guns,  going  to  the  Leeward  Islands,  as  a 
cruiser,  on  the  peace  establishment.  Lady  Hughes 
and  her  family  went  out  with  him  to  Admiral  Sir 
Bichard  Hughes,  who  commanded  on  that  station. 
His  ship  was  full  of  young  midshipmen,  of  whom 
there  were  not  less' than  thirty  on  board :  and  happy 
were  they  whose  lot  it  was  to  be  placed  with  such  a 
captain.  If  he  perceived  that  a  boy  was  afraid  at 
first  going  aloft,  he  would  say  to  him  in  a  friendly 
manner :  "  Well,  sir,  I  am  going  a  race  to  the  mast- 
head, and  beg  that  I  may  meet  you  there."  The 
poor  little  fellow  instantly  began  to  climb,  and  got 
up  how  he  could, — Nelson  never  noticed  in  what 
manner,  but,  when  they  met  in  the  top,  spoke  cheer- 
fully to  him  ;  and  would  say,  how  much  any  person 
was  to  be  pitied  who  fancied  that  getting  up  was 
either  dangerous  or  difficult.    Every  day  he  went 


/ .' 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


41 


into  the  school-room  to  see  that  they  were  pursuing 
their  nautical  studies ;  and  at  noon  he  was  always 
the  first  on  deck  with  his  quadrant.  Whenever  he 
paid  a  visit  of  ceremony,  some  of  these  youths  ac- 
companied him  :  and  when  he  went  to  dine  with  the 
governor  of  Barbadoes,  he  took  one  of  them  in  his 
hand,  and  presented  him,  saying,  "Your  Excel- 
lency must  excuse  me  for  bringing  one  of  my  mid- 
shipmen. I  make  it  a  rule  to  introduce  them  to  all 
the  good  company  I  can,  as  they  have  few  to  look 
up  to,  besides  myself,  during  the  time  they  are  at 
sea." 

When  Nelson  arrived  in  the  West  Indies  he  found 
himself  senior  captain,  and  consequently  second  in 
command  on  that  station.  Satisfactory  as  this  was, 
it  soon  involved  him  in  a  dispute  with  the  admiral, 
which  a  man  less  zealous  for  the  service  might  have 
avoided.  He  found  the  Latona  in  English  Harbor, 
Antigua,  with  a  broad  pendant  hoisted ;  and,  upon 
inquiring  the  reason,  was  presented  with  a  written 
order  from  Sh*  R.  Hughes,  requiring  and  directing 
him  to  obey  the  orders  of  resident  commissioner 
Moutray,  during  the  time  he  might  have  occasion 
to  remain  there ;  the  said  resident  commissioner 
being,  in  consequence,  authorized  to  hoist  a  broad 
pendant  on  board  any  of  His  Majesty's  ships  in 
that  port  that  he  might  think  proper.  Nelson  was 
never  at  a  loss  how  to  act  in  any  emergency.  "I 
know  of  no  superior  oflBcers,"  said  he,  "  besides 
the  lords  commissioners  of  the  admiralty  and  my 
seniors  on  the  post  list."  Concluding,  therefore, 
that  it  was  not  consistent  with  the  service  for  a 
resident  commissioner,  who  held  only  a  civil  situa- 
tion, to  hoist  a  broad  pendant,  the  moment  that  he 
had  anchored,  he  sent  an  order  to  the  captain  of 
the  Latona  to  strike  it,  and  return  it  to  the  dock- 
yard.   He  went  on  shore  the  same  day,  dined  tvith 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


{. 


s 


\  I 


I  ( 


the  commissioner,  to  show  him  that  he  was  actuated 
by  no  other  motive  than  a  sease  of  duty,  and  gave 
him  the  first  intelligence  that  his  pendant  had  been 
struck.  Sir  Richard  sent  an  account  of  this  to  the 
admiralty ;  but  the  case  could  admit  of  no  doubt, 
and  Captain  Nelson's  conduct  was  approved. 

He  displayed  the  same  promptitude  on  another 
occasion.  While  the  Boreas,  after  the  huiTicane 
months  were  over,  was  riding  at  anchor  in  Nevis 
Roads,  a  French  frigate  passed  to  leeward,  close 
along  shore.  Nelson  had  obtained  information  that 
this  ship  was  sent  from  Martinico,  with  two  general 
officers  and  some  engineers  on  board,  to  make  a 
survey  of  our  sugar  islands.  This  purpose  he  was 
determined  to  prevent  them  from  executing,  and 
therefore  he  gave  orders  to  follow  them.  The  next 
day  he  came  up  with  them  at  anchor  in  'the  roads 
of  St.  Eustatia,  and  anchored  at  about  two  cables* 
length  on  the  frigate's  quarter.  Being  afterwards 
invited  by  the  Dutch  governor  to  meet  the  French 
officers  at  dinner,  he  seized  that  occasion  of  assur- 
ing the  French  captain,  that  understanding  it  was 
his  intention  to  honor  the  British  possessions  with 
a  visit,  he  had  taken  the  earliest  opportunity  in  his 
power  to  accompany  him,  in  his  Majesty's  ship  the 
Boreas,  in  order  that  such  attention  might  be  paid 
to  the  officers  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty,  as 
every  Englishman  in  the  islands  would  be  proud  to 
show.  The  French,  with  equal  courtesy,  protested 
against  giving  him  this  trouble  ;  especially,  they  said, 
as  they  intended  merely  to  cruise  round  the  islands, 
without  landing  on  any.  But  Nelson,  with  the  ut- 
most politeness,  insisted  upon  paying  them  this  com- 
pliment, followed  them  close,  in  spite  of  all  their 
attempts  to  elude  his  vigilance,  and  never  lost  sight 
of  them,  till,  finding  it  impossible  either  to  deceive 
or  escape  him,  they  gave  up  their  treacherous  pur- 
pose in  despair,  and  beat  up  for  Martinico. 


-  i 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


48 


A  business  of  more  serious  import  soon  engaged 
his  attention.  The  Americans  were  at  this  time 
trading  with  our  isliands,  taking  advantage  of  the 
register  of  their  ships,  which  had  been  issued  while 
they  were  British  subjects.  Nelson  knew  that,  by 
the  navigation  act,  no  foreigners,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, are  permitted  to  carry  on  any  trade  with 
these  possessions :  he  knew,  also,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans had  made  themselves  foreigners  with  regard  to 
England ;  they  had  broken  the  ties  of  blood  and 
language,  and  had  acquired  the  independence  which 
they  had  been  provoked  to  claim,  unhappily  for 
themselves,  before  they  were  fit  for  it :  and  he  was 
resolved  that  they  should  derive  no  profit  from  those 
ties  now.  Foreigners  they  had  made  themselves, 
and  as  foreigners  they  were  to  be  treated.  "  If 
once,"  said  he,  "they  are  admitted  to  any  kind  of 
intercourse  with  our  islands,  the  views  of  the  loyal- 
ists, in  settling  at  Nova  Scotia,  are  entirely  done 
away ;  and  when  we  are  again  embroiled  in  a  French 
war,  the  Americans  will  first  become  the  caniers  of 
these  colonies,  and  then  have  possession  of  them. 
Here  they  come,  sell  their  cargoes  for  ready  money, 
go  to  Martinico,  buy  molasses,  and  so  round  and 
round.  The  loyalist  cannot  do  this,  and  conse- 
quently must  sell  a  little  dearer.  The  residents  here 
are  Americans  by  connection  and  by  interest,  and 
are  inimical  to  Great  Britain.  They  are  as  great 
rebels  as  ever  were  in  America,  had  they  the 
power  to  show  it."  In  November,  when  the  squad- 
ron, having  arrived  at  Barbadoes,  was  to  separate, 
with  no  other  orders  than  those  for  examining  an- 
chorages, and  the  usual  inquiries  concerning  wood 
and  water,  Nelson  asked  his  friend  CoUingwood, 
then  captain  of  the  Mediator,  whose  opinions  he 
knew  upon  the  subject,  to  accompany  him  to  the 
commander-in-chief,   whom    he    then    respectfully 


/ 


M 


THE  MFB  OF  NELSON. 


r 


,\  ■ 


i! 


asked,  whether  they  were  not  to  attend  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  country,  and  see  that  the  navigation 
act  was  respected — that  appearing  to  him  to  be  the 
intent  of  keeping  men-of-war  upon  this  station  in 
time  of  peace?  Sir  Richard  Hughes  replied,  he  had^ 
no  particular  orders,  neither  had  the  admiralty  sent 
him  any  acts  of  parliament.  But  Nelson  made 
answer,  that  the  navigation  act  was  included  in  the 
statutes  of  the  admiralty,  with  which  every  captain 
was  furnished,  and  that  act  was  directed  to  admi- 
rals, captains,  etc.,  to  see  it  earned  into  execution. 
Sir  Richard  said,  he  had  never  seen  the  book.  Upon 
this  Nelson  produced  the  statutes,  read  the  words  of 
the  act,  and  apparently  convinced  the  commander- 
in-chief,  that  men-of-war,  as  he  said,  "were  sent 
abroad  for  some  other  purpose  than  to  be  made  a 
show  of."  Accordingly,  orders  were  given  to  en- 
force the  navigation  act. 

General  Sir  Thomas  Shirley  was  at  this  time  gov- 
ernor of  the  Leeward  Islands ;  and  when  Nelson 
waited  on  him  to  inform  him  how  he  intended  to 
act,  and  upon  what  grounds,  he  replied,  that  *'old 
generals  were  not  in  the  habit  of  taking  advice  from 
young  gentlemen." — "  Sir,"  said  the  young  officer, 
with  that  confidence  in  himself  which  never  carried 
him  too  far,  and  always  was  equal  to  the  occasion, 
"  I  am  as  old  as  the  prime  minister  of  England, 
and  think  myself  as  capable  of  commanding  one  of 
his  Majesty's  ships,  as  that  minister  is  of  governing 
the  state."  He  was  resolved  to  do  his  duty,  what- 
ever might  be  the  opinion  or  conduct  of  others  :  and 
when  he  amved  upon  his  station  at  St.  Kitt*s  he 
sent  away  all  the  Americans,  not  choosing  to  seize 
them  before  they  had  been  well  apprised  that  the 
act  would  be  carried  into  effect,  lest  it  might  seem 
as  if  a  trap  had  been  laid  for  them.  The  Amet-i- 
cans,  though  they  prudently  decamped  from  St. 


V  .' 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


46 


Kitt*s,  were  emboldened  by  the  support  they  met 
with,  and  resolved  to  resist  his  orders,  alleging  that 
king's  ships  had  no  legal  power  to  seize  them  w^ith- 
out  haying  deputations  from  the  customs.  The 
planters  were  to  a  man  against  him  ;  the  governors 
and  the  presidents  of  the  different  islands,  with  only 
a  single  exception,  gave  him  no  support ;  and  the 
admiral,  afraid  to  act  on  either  side,  yet  wishing  to 
oblige  the  planters,  sent  him  a  note,  advising  him 
to  be  guided  by  the  wishes  of  the  president  of  the 
council.  There  was  no  danger  in  disregarding  this, 
as  it  ca^ro  unofficially,  and  in  the  form  of  advice. 
But  scarcely  a  month  after  he  had  shown  Sir  Rich- 
ard Hughes  the  law,  and,  as  he  supposed,  satisfied 
him  concerning  it,  he  received  an  order  from  him, 
stating  that  he  had  now  obtained  good  advice  upon 
the  point,  and  the  Americans  were  not  to  be  hin- 
dered from  coming,  and  having  free  egress  and 
regress,  if  the  governor  chose  to  permit  them.  An 
order  to  the  same  purport  had  been  sent  round  to 
the  different  governors  and  presidents  ;  and  General 
Shirley  and  others  informed  him,  in  an  authorita- 
tive manner,  that  they  chose  to  admit  American 
ships,  as  the  commander-in-chief  had  left  the  de- 
cision to  them.  These  persons,  in  his  own  words, 
he  soon  *'  trimmed  up,  and  silenced ; "  but  it  was  a 
more  delicate  business  to  deal  with  the  admiral. 
"  I  must  either,"  said  he,  *'  disobey  my  orders,  or 
disobey  acts  of  parliament.  I  determined  upon  the 
former,  trusting  to  the  uprightness  of  my  inten- 
tions, and  believing  that  my  country  would  not  let 
me  be  ruined  for  protecting  her  commerce."  With 
this  determination  he  wrote  to  Sir  Richard,  appealed 
again  to  the  plain,  literal,  unequivocal  sense  of  the 
navigation  act,  and  in  respectful  language  told  him, 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  decline  obeying  these  orders 
till  he  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  and  conversing 


40 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


I 


T'^ 


11 


,\ , 


I 


with  him.  Sir  Richard's  first  feeling  was  that  of 
anger,  and  he  was  about  to  supersede  Nelson ;  but 
having  mentioned  the  affair  to  his  captain,  that 
officer  told  him  he  believed  all  the  squadron  thought 
the  orders  illegal,  and  therefore  did  not  know  how 
far  they  were  bound  to  obey  them.  It  was  impos- 
sible, therefore,  to  bring  Nelson  to  a  court-martial, 
composed  of  men  who  agreed  with  him  in  opinion 
upon  the  point  in  dispute ;  and  luckily,  though  the 
admiral  wanted  vigor  of  mind  to  decide  upon  what 
was  right,  he  was  not  obstinate  in  wrong,  and  had 
even  generosity  enough  in  his  nature  to  thank  Nel- 
son afterwards  for  having  shown  him  his  en'or. 

Collingwood,  in  the  Mediator,  and  his  brother, 
Wilfred  Collingwood,  in  the  Rattler,  actively  co- 
operated with  Nelson.  The  custom-houses  were  in- 
formed, that  after  a  certain  day  all  foreign  vessels 
found  in  the  ports  would  be  seized :  and  many  were 
in  consequence  seized,  and  condemned  in  the  admi- 
ralty court.  When  the  Boreas  anlved  at  Nevis, 
she  found  four  American  vessels  deeply  laden,  and 
with  what  are  ^called  the  island  colors  flying — white, 
with  a  red  cross.  They  were  ordered  to  hoist  their 
proper  flag,  and  depart  within  eight  and  forty  hours ; 
but  they  refused  to  obey,  denying  that  they  were 
Americans.  Some  of  their  crews  were  then  exam- 
ined in  Nelson's  cabin,  where  the  judge  of  the  ad- 
miralty happened  to  be  present.  The  case  was 
plain ;  they  confessed  that  they  were  Americans, 
and  that  the  ships,  hull  and  cargo,  were  wholly 
American  property :  upon  which  he  seized  them. 
This  raised  a  storm :  the  planters,  the  custom-house, 
and  the  governor,  were  all  against  him.  Subscrip- 
tions were  opened,  and  presently  filled,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  on  the  cause  in  behalf  of  the 
American  captains :  and  the  admiral,  whose  flag 
was  at  that  time  in  the  roads,  stood  neutral.  But 
-M    -  t  ■ 


i 


;]s^ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


47 


N  I 


the  Americans  and  their  abettors  were  not  content 
with  defensive  law.  The  marines  whom  he  had 
sent  to  secure  the  ships,  had  prevented  some  of  the 
masters  fron^  J^^ng  ashore ;  and  those  persons, 
from  whose  depositions  it  appeared  that  the  vessels 
and  cargoes  were  American  property,  declared  that 
they  had  given  their  testimony  under  bodily  fear, 
for  that  a  Inan  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand 
had  stood  over  them  the  whole  of  the  time.  A  ras- 
cally lawyer,  whom  the  party  employed,  suggested 
this  story ;  and  as  the  sentry  at  the  cabin  door  was 
a  man  with  a  drawn  sword,  the  Americans  made  no 
scruple  of  swearing  to  this  ridiculous  falsehood, 
and  commencing  prosecutions  against  him  accord- 
ingly. They  laid  their  damages  at  the  enormous 
sum  of  £40,000 ;  and  Nelson  was  obliged  to  keep 
close  on  board  his  own  ship,  lest  he  should  be 
arrested  for  a  sum  for  which  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  find  bail.  The  marshal  frequently 
came  on  board  to  arrest  him,  but  was  always  pre- 
vented bv  the  address  of  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr. 
"Wallis.  Had  he  been  taken,  such  was  the  temper 
of  the  people,  that  it  is  certain  he  would  have  been 
cast  for  the  whole  sum.  One  of  his  oflScers,  one 
day,  in  speaking  of  the  restraint  which  he  was  thus 
compelled  to  suffer,  happened  to  use  the  word  pity  ! 
"  Pity ! "  exclaimed  Nelson :  *'  Pity  !  did  you  say  ? 
I  shall  live,  sir,  to  be  envied !  and  to  that  point  I 
shall  always  direct  my  course."  Eight  weeks  he 
remained  under  this  state  of  duress.  During  that 
time  the  trial  respecting  these  detained  ships  came 
on  in  the  court  of  admiralty.  He  went  on  shore  under 
a  protection  for  the  day  from  the  judge :  but,  not- 
withstanding this,  the  marshal  was  called  upon  to 
take  that  opportunity  of  ari'esting  him,  and  the  mer- 
chants promised  to  indemnify  him  for  so  doing. 
The  judge,  however,  did  his  duty,  and  threatened 


/ 


il. 


M 


48 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


t^l 


to  send  the  marshal  to  prison,  if  he  attempted  to 
violate  the  protection  of  the  court.  Mr.  Herbert, 
the  president  of  Nevis,  behaved  with  singular  gen- 
erosity upon  this  occasion.  Though  no  man  was  a 
greater  sufferer  by  the  measures  which  Nelson  had 
pursued,  he  offered  in  court  to  become  his  bail  for 
£10,000,  if  he  chose  to  suffer  the  arrest.  The  law- 
yer whom  he  had  chosen  proved  to  be  an  able  as 
well  as  an  honest  man;  and,  notwithstanding  the 
opinions  and  pleadings  of  most  of  the  counsel  of 
the  different  islands,  who  maintained  that  ships  of 
war  were  not  justified  in  seizing  American  vessels 
without  a  deputation  from  the  customs,  the  law  was 
so  explicit,  the  case  so  clear,  and  Nelson  pleaded 
his  own  cause  so  well,  that  the  four  ships  were  con- 
demned. During  the  progress  of  this  business  he 
sent  a  memorial  home  to  the  king :  in  consequence 
of  which,  orders  were  issued  that  he  should  be  de- 
fended at  the  expense  of  the  crown.  And  upon 
the  representations  which  he  made  at  the  same  time 
to  the  secretary  of  state,  and  the  suggestions  with 
which  he  accompanied  them,  the  register  act  was 
framed.  The  sanction  of  government,  and  the  ap- 
probation of  his  conduct  which  it  implied,  were 
highly  gi'atifying  to  him  :  but  he  was  offended,  and 
not  without  just  cause,  that  the  treasury  should 
have  transmitted  thanks  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
for  his  activity  and  zeal  in  protecting  the  commerce 
of  Great  Britain.  *'  Had  they  known  all,"  said  he, 
"  I  do  not  think  they  would  have  bestowed  thanks 
in  that  quarter,  and  neglected  me.  I  feel  much 
hurt  that  after  the  loss  of  health  and  risk  of  for- 
tune, another  should  be  thanked  for  what  I  did 
against  his  orders.  I  either  deserved  to  be  sent  out 
of  the  service,  or  at  least  to  have  had  some  little 
notice  taken  of  what  I  had  done.  They  have 
thought  it  worthy  of  notice,  and  yet  have  neglected 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


49 


me.  If  this  is  the  reward  for  a  faithful  discharge 
of  my  duty  I  shall  be  careful,  and  never  stand  for- 
ward again.  But  I  have  done  my  duty,  and  have 
nothing  to  accuse  myself  of." 

The  anxiety  he  had  suffared  from  the  harassing 
uncertainties  of  law,  is  apparent  from  these  expres- 
sions. He  had,  however,  something  to  console  him, 
for  he  was  at  this  time  wooing  the  niece  of  his  friend 
the  president,  then  in  her  eighteenth  year,  the  widow 
of  Dr.  Nisbet,  a  physician.  She  had  one  child,  a 
son,  by  name  Josiah,  who  was  three  years  old.  One 
day  Mr.  Herbert,  who  had  hastened,  half-dressed,  to 
receive  Nelson,  exclaimed,  on  returning  to  his  dress- 
ing-room, "  Good  God !  if  I  did  not  find  that  great 
little  man,  of  whom  everybody  is  so  afraid,  playing 
in  the  next  room,  under  the  dining-table,  with  Mrs. 
Nisbet's  child  ! "  A  few  days  afterwards  Mrs.  Nis- 
bet herself  was  first  introduced  to  him,  and  thanked 
him  for  the  partiality  which  he  had  shown  her  little 
boy.  Her  mannv?rs  were  mild  and  winning :  and 
the  captain,  whose  heart  was  easily  susceptible  of 
attachment,  found  no  such  imperious  necessity  for 
subduing  his  inclinations  as  had  twice  before  with- 
held him  from  marrying.  They  were  married  on 
March  11,  1787:  Prince  William  Henry,  who  had 
come  out  to  the  West  Indies  the  preceding  winter, 
being  present,  by  his  own  desire,  to  give  away  the 
bride.  Mr.  Herbert,  her  uncle,  was  at  this  time 
so  much  displeased  with  his  only  daughter,  that  he 
had  resolved  to  disinherit  her,  and  leave  his  whole 
fortune,  which  was  very  great,  to  his  niece.  But 
Nelson,  whose  nature  was  too  noble  to  let  him  profit 
by  an  act  of  injustice,  interfered,  and  succeeded  in 
reconciling  the  president  to  his  child. 

"Yesterday,"  said  one  of  his  naval  friends  the 
day  after  the  wedding,  "the  navy  lost  one  of  its 
gi'eatest  ornaments,  by  Nelson's  man-iage.     It  is  a 


60 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


I 


-^ 


>  1 


,? 


national  loss  that  such  an  officer  should  maiTy  :  had 
it  not  been  for  this,  Nelson  would  have  become  the 
greatest  man  in  (he  service."  The  man  was  rightly 
estimated :  but  he  who  delivered  this  opinion  did 
not  understand  the  effect  of  domestic  love  and  duty 
upon  a  mind  of  the  true  heroic  stamp.  * 

*'  We  are  often  separate,"  said  Nelson,  in  a  letter 
to  Mrs.  Nisbet,  a  few  months  before  their  mari'iage  ; 
*'  but  our  affections  are  not  by  any  means  on  that 
account  diminished.  Our  country  has  the  first  de- 
mand for  our  services ;  and  private  convenience  or 
happiness  must  ever  give  way  to  the  public  good. 
Duty  is  the  great  business  of  a  sea  oflBcer :  all  pri- 
vate considerations  must  give  way  to  it,  however 
painful."  "  Have  you  not  often  heard,"  said  he,  in 
another  letter,  *'  that  salt  water  and  absence  always 
wash  away  love  ?  Now,  I  am  such  a  heretic  as  not 
to  believe  in  that  article  :  for  behold,  every  morning 
I  have  had  six  pails  of  salt  water  poured  upon  my 
head,  and  instead  of  finding  what  seamen  say  to  be 
true,  it  goes  on  so  contrary  to  the  prescription,  that 
you  must,  perhaps,  see  me  before  the  fixed  time." 
More  frequently  his  correspondence  breathed  a 
deeper  strain.  "  To  write  letters  to  you,"  says  he, 
"  is  the  next  greatest  pleasure  I  feel  to  receiving 
them  from  you.  What  I  experience  when  I  read  such 
as  I  am  sure  are  the  pure  sentiments  of  your  heart, 
my  poor  pen  cannot  express ; — nor,  indeed,  would  I 
give  much  for  any  pen  or  head  which  could  express 
feelings  of  that  kind.  Absent  from  you  I  feel  no 
pleasure :  it  is  you  who  are  everything  to  me.  With- 
out you,  I  care  not  for  this  world  ;  for  I  have  found, 
lately,  nothing  in  it  but  vexation  and  trouble.  These 
are  my  present  sentiments.  God  Almighty  grant 
they  may  never  change  !  Nor  do  I  think  they  will. 
Indeed  there  is,  as  far  as  human  knowledge  can 
judge,  a  moral  certainty  that  they  cannot:  for  it 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


61 


*  « 


)) 


must  be  real  afTection  that  brin^R  us  top^cther,  and 
not  interest  or  compulsion."  vSuch  were  the  feelings, 
and  such  the  sense  of  duty  with  which  Nelson  be- 
came a  husband. 

Durinf2^  his  stay  upon  this  station  he  had  ample 
opportunity  of  observing  the  scandalous  practices 
of  the  contractors,  prize-agents,  and  other  persons 
in  the  West  Indies  connected  with  the  naval  service. 
When  he  was  first  left  with  the  command,  and  bills 
were  brought  him  to  sign  for  money  which  was  ow- 
ing for  goods  purchased  for  the  navy,  he  required 
the  original  voucher,  that  he  might  examine  whether 
those  goods  had  been  really  purchased  at  the  mar- 
ket price :  but  to  produce  vouchers  would  not  have 
been  convenient,  and  therefore  was  not  the  custom. 
Upon  this  Nelson  wrote  to  Sir  Charles  Middleton, 
then  comptroller  of  the  navy,  representing  the 
abuses  which  were  likely  to  be  practiced  in  this 
manner.  The  answer  which  he  received  seemed  to 
imply  that  the  old  forms  were  thought  sufficient : 
and  thus  having  no  alternative,  he  was  compelled, 
with  his  eyes  open,  to  submit  to  a  practice  origi- 
nating in  fraudulent  intentions.  Soon  afterwards 
two  Antigu.n  merchants  informed  him,  that  they 
were  ,  nvy  to  great  frauds,  which  had  been  com- 
mitted upon  governments  in  various  departments :  at 
Antigua,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  £500,000  ;  at  Lu- 
cie, £300,000  ;  at  Barbadoes,  £250,000  ;  at  Jamaica, 
upwards  of  a  million.  The  informers  were  both 
shrewd,  sensible  men  of  business  ;  they  did  not  affect 
to  be  actuated  by  a  sense  of  justice,  but  required  a 
per  centage  upon  so  much  as  government  should 
actually  recover  through  their  means.  Nelson  ex- 
amined the  books  and  papers  which  they  produced, 
and  was  convinced  that  go%  ernment  had  been  most 
infamously  plundered.  Vouchers,  he  found,  in  that 
country,  were  no  check    whatever:   the  principle 


/ 


62 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


V/' 


//; 


was,  "  that  a  thing  was  always  worth  what  it  would 
bring : "  and  the  merchants  were  in  the  habit  of 
signing  vouchers  for  each  other,  without  even  the 
appearance  of  looking  at  the  articles.  These  ac- 
counts he  sent  home  to  the  different  departments 
which  had  been  defrauded :  but  the  peculators  were 
too  powerful ;  and  they  succeeded  not  merely  in  im- 
peding inquiry,  but  even  in  raising  prejudices 
against  Nelson  at  the  board  of  admiralty,  which  it 
was  many  years  before  he  could  subdue. 

Owing,  probably,  to  these  prejudices,  and  the  in- 
fluence of  the  .peculators,  he  was  treated,  on  his 
return  to  England,  in  a  manner  which  had  nearly 
driven  him  from  the  service.  During  the  three 
years  that  the  Boreas  had  remained  upon  a  station 
which  is  usually  so  fatal,  not  a  single  officer  or  man 
of  her  whole  complement  had  died.  This  almost 
unexampled  instance  of  good  health,  though  mostly, 
no  doubt,  imputable  to  healthy  seasons,  must  in 
some  measure  also  be  ascribed  to  the  wise  conduct 
of  the  captain.  He  never  suffered  the  ships  to  re- 
main more  than  three  or  four  at  a  time  at  any  of 
the  islands ;  and  when  the  hurricane  months  con- 
fined him  to  English  Harbor,  he  encouraged  all 
kinds  of  useful  amusements :  music,  dancing,  and 
cudgelling  among  the  nJfen ;  theatricals  among  the 
officers :  anything  which  could  employ  their  atten- 
tion, and  keep  their  spirits  cheerful.  The  Boreas 
arrived  in  England  in  June.  Nelson,  who  had  many 
times  been  supposed  to  be  consumptive  when  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  perhaps  was  saved  from  consump- 
tion by  that  climate,  was  still  in  a  precarious  state 
of  health ;  and  the  raw  wet  weather  of  one  of  our 
ungenial  summers  brought  on  cold,  and  sore  throat, 
and  fever ;  yet  his  vessel  was  kept  at  the  Nore  from 
the  end  of  June  till  the  end  ol  November,  serving  as 
a  slop  and  receiving  ship.     This  unworthy  treatment, 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 


which  more  probably  proceeded  from  intention  than 
from  neglect,  excited  in  Nelson  the  strongest  indig- 
nation. During  the  wholr  ive  months  he  seldom  or 
never  quitted  the  ship,  but  earned  on  the  duty  with 
strict  and  sullen  attention.  On  the  morning  when* 
orders  were  received  to  prepare  the  Boreas  for  being 
paid  off,  he  expressed  his  joy  to  the  senior  officer  in 
the  Medway  ;  saying,  "  It  will  release  me  for  ever 
from  an  ungi-ateful  service,  for  it  is  my  firm  and  un- 
alterable determination  never  again  to  set  my  foot 
on  board  a  king's  ship.  Immediately  after  my  ar- 
rival in  town  I  shall  wait  upon  the  first  lord  of  the 
admiralty,  and  resign  my  commission."  The  officer 
to  whom  he  thus  communicated  his  intentions  be- 
haved in  the  wisest  and  most  friendly  manner ;  for 
finding  it  vain  to  dissuade  him  in  his  present  state 
of  feeling,  he  secretly  interfered  with  the  first  lord 
to  save  him  from  a  step  so  injurious  to  himself,  little 
foreseeing  how  deeply  the  welfare  and  honor  of 
England  were  at  that  moment  at  stake.  This  inter- 
ference produced  a  letter  from  Lord  Howe,  the  day 
before  the  ship  was  paid  off,  intimating  a  wish  to 
see  Captain  Nelson  as  soon  as  he  arrived  in  town : 
when,  being  pleased  with  his  conversation,  and  per- 
fectly convinced,  by  what  was  then  explained  to  him, 
of  the  propriety  of  his  conduct,  he  desired  that  he 
might  present  him  to  the  king  on  the  first  levee 
day :  and  the  gracious  manner  in  which  Nelson  was 
then  received,  effectually  removed  his  resentment. 

Pi'ejudices  had  been,  in  like  manner,  excited 
against  his  friend,  Pi'ince  William  Henry.  "  Noth- 
ing is  wanting,  sir,"  said  Nelson,  in  one  of  his  let- 
ters, "  to  make  you  the  darling  of  the  English  na- 
tion but  truth.  Sorry  I  am  to  say,  much  to  the 
contrary  has  been  dispersed."  This  was  not  flat- 
tery ;  for  Nelson  was  no  flatterer.  The  letter  in 
which  this  passage  occurs  shows  in  how  wise  and 


-%x 


'-V 


J' 


'r,"> 


■- 


.   I 


1 

Hi  i 


THE  LIPE  OP  NELSON. 


noble  a  manner  he  dealt  with  the  prince.  One  of 
his  royal  highnesses  officers  had  applied  for  a 
court-martial  upon  a  point  in  which  he  was  unques- 
tionably wi'ong.  His  royal  highness,  however, 
while  he  supported  his  own  character  and  authority, 
prevented  the  trial,  which  must  have  been  injurious 
to  a  brave  and  deserving  man.  **  Now  that  you  are 
parted,"  said  Nelson,  "  pardon  me,  my  prince,  when 
I  presume  to  recommend  that  he  may  stand  in  your 
royal  favor  as  if  he  had  never  sailed  with  you,  and 
that  at  some  future  day  you  will  serve  him.  There 
only  wants  this  to  place  your  conduct  in  the  highest 
point  of  view.  None  of  us  are  without  failings; 
his,  was  being  rather  too  hasty :  but  that,  put  into 
competition  with  his  being  a  good  oflScer,  will  not,  I 
am  bold  to  say,  be  taken  in  the  scale  against  him. 
More  able  friends  than  myself  your  royal  highness 
may  easily  Qnd,  and  of  more  consequence  in  the 
state ;  but  one  more  attached  and  affectionate,  is 
not  so  easily  met  with.  Princes  seldom,  very  sel- 
dom, find  a  disinterested  person  to  communicate 
their  thoughts  to :  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  that  per- 
son ;  but  of  this  be  assured,  by  a  man  who,  I  trust, 
never  did  a  dishonorable  act,  that  I  am  interested 
only  that  your  royal  highness  should  be  the  greatest 
and  best  man  this  country  ever  produced." 

Encouraged  by  the  conduct  of  Lord  Howe,  and 
by  his  reception  at  court,  Nelson  renewed  his  attack 
upon  the  peculators  with  fresh  spirit.  He  had  in- 
terviews with  Mr.  Rose,  Mr.  Pitt,  and  Sir  Charles 
Middleton ;  to  all  of  whom  he  satisfactorily  proved 
his  charges.  In  consequence,  it  is  said,  these  very 
extensive  public  frauds  were  at  length  put  in  a 
proper  train  to  be  provided  against  in  future ;  his 
representations  were  attended  to ;  and  every  step 
which  he  recommended  was  adopted :  the  investiga- 
tion was  put  into  a  proper  course,  which  ended  in 


¥ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


B5      : 


t 


the  detection  and  punishment  of  some  of  the  cul- 
prits ;  an  immense  saving  was  made  to  government, 
and  thus  its  attention  was  directed  to  similar  pecu- 
lation in  other  parts  of  the  colonies.  But  it  is  said 
also,  that  no  mark  of  commendation  seems  to  have 
been  bestowed  upon  Nelson  for  his  exertion.  And 
it  is  justly  remarked,  that  the  spirit  of  the  navy 
cannot  be  preserved  so  effectually  by  the  liberal 
honors  bestowed  on  officers,  when  they  are  worn  out 
in  the  service,  as  by  an  attention  to  those  who,  like 
Nelson  at  this  part  of  his  life,  have  only  their  in- 
tegrity and  zeal  to  bring  them  into  notice.  A  junior 
officer,  who  had  been  left  with  the  command  at  Ja- 
maica, received  an  additional  allowance,  for  which 
Nelson  had  applied  in  vain.  Double  pay  was  allowed 
to  every  artificer  and  seaman  employed  in  the  naval 
yard :  Nelson  had  superintended  the  whole  business 
of  that  yard  with  the  most  rigid  exactness,  and  he 
complained  that  he  was  neglected.  *' It  was  most 
ti'ue,"  he  said,  "  that  the  trouble  which  he  took  to 
detect  the  fraudulent  practices  then  carried  on,  was 
no  more  than  his  duty ;  but  he  little  thought  that 
the  expenses  attending  his  frequent  journeys  to  St. 
John's  upon  that  duty  (a  distance  of  twelve  miles) , 
would  have  fallen  upon  his  pay  as  captain  of  the 
Boreas."  Nevertheless,  the  sense  of  what  he  thought 
unworthy  usage  did  not  diminish  his  zeal.  "  I," 
said  he,  "  must  still  buffet  the  waves  in  search  of — 
What?  Alas !  that  they  called  honor  is  now  thought 
of  no  more.  My  fortune,  God  knows,  has  grown 
worse  for  the  service :  so  much  for  serving  my 
country.  But  the  devil,  ever  willing  to  tempt  the 
virtuous,  has  made  me  offer,  if  any  ships  should  be 
sent  to  destroy  his  majesty  of  Morocco's  ports,  to 
be  there :  and  I  have  some  reason  to  think,  that, 
should  any  more  come  of  it,  my  humble  services 
will  be  accepted.     I  have  invariably  laid  down  and 


I 


,-  ,.>^  .■■; 


/' 


jr 


\ 


66 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


followed  close,  a  plan  of  what  ought  to  be  upper- 
most in  the  breast  of  an  officer, — that  it  is  much 
better  to  serve  an  ungi'ateful  country,  than  to  give 
up  his  own  fame.  Posterity  will  do  him  justice.  A 
unifonn  course  of  honor  and  integrity  seldom  fails 
}u  bringing  a  man  to  the  goal  of  fame  at  last." 

The  design  against  the  Barbary  pirates,  like  all 
other  designs  against  them,  was  laid  aside ;  and. 
Nelson  took  his  wife  to  his  father's  parsonage, 
meaning  only  to  pay  him  a  visit  before  they  went  to 
France ;  a  project  which  he  had  formed  for  the  sake 
of  acquiring  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  French 
language.  But  his  father  could  not  bear  to  lose 
him  thus  unnecessarily.  Mr.  Nelson  had  long  been 
an  invalid,  suffering  under  paralytic  and  asthmatic 
affections,  which,  for  several  hours  after  he  rose  in 
the  morning,  scarcely  permitted  him  to  speak.  He 
had  been  given  over  by  his  physicians  for  this  com- 
plaint nearly  forty  years  before  his  death ;  and  was, 
for  many  of  his  last  years,  obliged  to  spend  all  his 
winters  at  Bath.  The  sight  of  his  son,  he  declared, 
had  given  him  new  life.  "  But  Horatio,"  said  he, 
"  it  would  have  been  better  that  I  had  not  been  thus 
cheered,  if  I  am  so  soon  to  be  bereaved  of  you 
again.  Let  me,  my  good  son,  see  you  whilst  I  can. 
My  age  and  infirmities  increase,  and  I  shall  not  last 
long."  To  such  an  appeal  there  could  be  no  reply. 
Nelson  took  up  his  abode  at  the  parsonage,  and 
amused  himself  with  the  sports  and  occupations  of 
the  country.  Sometimes  he  busied  himself  with 
farming  the  glebe ;  sometimes  spent  the  greater 
part  of  the  day  in  the  garden,  where  he  would  dig 
as  if  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  wearying  himself. 
Sometimes  he  went  a  bird's  nesting,  like  a  boy : 
and  in  these  expeditions  Mrs.  Nelson  always,  by  his 
express  desire  accompanied  him.  Coursing  was  his 
favorite  amusement.     Shooting,  as  he  practiced  it, 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 


!   I 


was  far  too  dangerous  for  his  companions,  for  he 
earned  his  gun  upon  the  full  cock,  as  if  he  were 
going  to  board  an  enemy ;  and  the  moment  a  bird 
rose,  he  let  fly,  without  ever  putting  the  fowling- 
piece  to  his  shoulder.  It  is  not,  therefore,  extraor- 
dinary, that  his  having  once  shot  a  partridge  should 
be  remembered  by  his  family  among  the  remarkable 
events  of  his  life. 

But  his  time  did  not  pass  away  thus  without  some 
vexatious  cares  to  ruffle  it.  The  affair  of  the  Amer- 
ican ships  was  not  yet  over,  and  he  was  again  pes- 
tered with  threats  of  prosecution.  "  I  have  written 
them  word,"  said  he,  "  that  I  will  have  nothinf*  to  do 
with  them,  and  they  must  act  as  they  think  proper. 
Government,  I  suppose,  will  do  what  is  right,  and 
not  leave  me  in  the  lurch.  We  have  heard  enough 
lately  of  the  consequences  of  the  navigation  act  to 
this  country.  They  may  take  my  person :  but  if 
sixpence  would  save  me  from  a  prosecution,  I  would 
not  give  it."  It  was  his  great  ambition  at  this  time 
to  possess  a  pony :  and  having  resolved  to  purchase 
one,  he  went  to  a  fair  for  that  purpose.  During  his 
absence  two  men  abruptly  entered  the  parsonage, 
and  inquire  d  for  hira :  they  then  asked  for  Mrs. 
Nelson:  and  after  they  had  made  her  repeatedly 
declare  that  she  was  really  and  truly  the  captain's 
wife,  presented  her  with  a  writ  or  notification,  on 
the  part  of  the  American  captains,  who  now  laid 
their  damages  at  £20,000,  and  they  charged  her  to 
give  it  to  her  husband  on  his  return.  Nelson  hav- 
ing bought  his  pony,  came  home  with  it  in  high 
spirits.  He  called  out  his  wife  to  admire  the  pur- 
chase, and  listen  to  all  its  excellences :  nor  was  it 
till  his  glee  had  in  some  measure  subsided,  that 
the  paper  could  be  presented  to  him.  His  indigna 
tion  was  excessive :  and  in  the  apprehension  that  he 
should  be  exposed  to  the  anxieties  of  che  suit,  and 


/' 


i: 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


M  -x 


the  ruinous  consequer  s  which  might  ensue,  he  ex- 
claimed, **  This  affront  I  did  not  deserve  !  But  I'll 
be  trifled  with  no  longer.  I  will  write  immediately 
to  the  treasury,  and,  if  government  will  not  support 
me,  I  am  resolved  to  leave  the  country."  Accord- 
ingly, he  informed  the  treasury,  that  if  a  satisfac- 
tory answer  were  not  sent  him  by  return  of  post, 
he  should  take  refuge  in  France.  To  this  he  ex- 
pected he  should  be  driven,  and  fortius  he  arranged^ 
everything  with  his  chara,cteristic  rapidity  of  deci- 
sion. It  was  settled  that  he  should  depart  immedi- 
ately, and  Mrs.  Nelson  follow  under  the  care  of  his 
elder  brother  Maurice,  ten  days  after  him.  But  the 
answer  which  he  received  from  government  quieted 
his  fears :  it  stated,  that  Captain  Nelson  was  a  very 
good  oflacer,  and  needed  to  be  under  no  apprehen- 
Rion,  for  he  would  assuredly  be  supported. 

Here  his  disquietud*"  upon  this  subject  seems  to 
have  ended.  Still  he  was  not  at  ease ;  he  wanted 
employment,  and  was  mortified  that  his  applications 
for  it  produced  no  effect.  "  Not  being  a  man  of 
fortune,"  he  said,  "  was  a  crime  which  he  was  un- 
able to  get  over,  and  therefore  none  of  the  great 
cared  about  him."  Repeatedly  he  requested  the 
admiralty  that  they  would  not  leave  him  to  rust  in 
indolence.  During  the  armament  which  was  made 
upon  occasion  of  the  dispute  concerning  Nootka 
Sound,  he  renewed  his  application :  and  his  steady 
friend,  Pi'ince  William,  who  had  then  been  created 
Duke  of  Clarence,  recommended  him  to  Lord  Chat- 
ham. The  failure  of  this  recommendation  wounded 
him  so  keenly,  that  he  again  thought  of  retiring 
from  the  service  in  disgust :  a  resolution  from  which 
nothing  but  the  urgent  remonstrances  of  Lord  Hood 
induced  him  to  desist.  Hearing  that  the  Raison- 
nable,  in  which  he  had  commenced  his  career,  was 
to  be  commissioned,  he  asked  for  her.     This  also 


I- 


/  ::  ■  i 


■  ,^ 


'S.«^ 


') 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


69 


,y. 


was  in  vain :  and  a  coolness  ensued  on  his  part, 
towards  Lord  Hood,  because  that  excellent  oflScer 
did  not  use  his  inflVience  with  Lord  Chatham  on  this 
occasion.  Lord  Hood,  however,  had  certainly  suf- 
ficient reasons  for  not  interfering,  for  he  ever  con- 
tinued his  steauy  friend.  In  the  winter  of  1792, 
when  we  were  on  the  eve  of  the  revolutionary  war. 
Nelson  once  more  offered  his  services,  earnestly  re- 
quested a  ship,  and  added,  that  if  their  lordships 
should  be  pleased  to  appoint  him  to  a  cockle-boat, 
he  should  feel  satisfied.  He  was  answered  in  the 
usual  oflScial  form : — "  Sir, — I  have  received  your 
letter  of  the  5th  instant,  expressing  your  readiness 
to  serve,  and  have  read  the  same  to  my  lords  com- 
missioners of  the  admiralty."  On  the  i2th  of  De- 
cember he  received  this  dry  acknowledgment.  The 
fresh  mortification  did  not,  however,  affect  him  long : 
for,  by  the  joint  interest  of  the  Duke  and  Lord 
Hood,  he  was  appointed,  on  the  30th  of  January 
following  to  the  Agamemnon  of  sixty-four  guns. 


/ 


i  \ 


\ 


/ 


Action  between  the  Aganutnnon  and  the  Ca  Ira. 


CHAPTER  m. 


» 


:  jilt  ill 

1 


**  n^^HERE  are  three  things,  young  gentleman, 
"*-  said  Nelson  to  one'  of  his  midshipmen, 
"  which  you  are  constantly  to  bear  in  mind.  First, 
you  must  always  implicitly  obey  orders,  without 
attempting  to  form  any  opinion  of  your  own  re- 
specting their  propriety.  Secondly,  you  must  con- 
sider every  man  your  enemy  who  speaks  ill  of  your 
king :  and,  thirdly,  you  must  hate  a  Frenchman  as 
yoa  do  the  devil."  With  these  feelings  he  engaged 
in  the  war.  Josiah,  his  son-in-law  went  with  him  as 
a  midshipman. 

The  Agamemnon  was  ordered  to  the  Mediterra- 
nean, under  Lord  Hood.  The  fleet  amved  in  those 
seas  at  a  time  when  the  south  of  France  would  will- 
ingly have  formed  itself  into  a  separate  republic, 
under  the  protection  of  England.  But  good  princi- 
ples had  been  at  that  time  perilously  abused  by  igno- 
rant and  profligate  men ;  and,  in  its  fear  and  hatred 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


61 


f» 


of  democracy,  the  English  government  abhorred 
whatever  was  republican.  Lord  Hood  could  not 
take  advantage  of  the  fair  occasion  which  presented 
itself ;  and  which,  if  it  had  been  seized  with  vigor, 
might  have  ended  in  dividing  France  : — but  ho  ne- 
gotiated with  the  people  of  Toulon,  to  take  posses- 
sion provisionally  of  their  port  and  city ;  which, 
fatally  for  themselves,  was  done.  Before  the  British 
fleet  entered.  Nelson  was  sent  with  despatches  to  Sir 
William  Hamilton,  our  envoy  at  the  court  of  Naples. 
Sir  "William,  after  his  first  intei-view  with  him,  told 
Lady  Hamilton  he  was  about  to  introduce  a  little 
man  to  her,  who  could  not  boast  of  being  very  hand- 
some ;  but  such  a  man,  as,  he  believed,  would  one 
day  astonish  the  world.  *'  I  have  never  before,"  he 
continued,  "  entertained  an  oflBcer  at  my  house  ;  but 
I  am  determined  to  bring  him  here.  Let  him  be  put 
in  the  room  prepared  for  Pi'ince  Augustus."  Thus 
that  acquaintance  began  which  ended  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  Nelson's  domestic  happiness.  It  seemed  to 
threaten  no  such  consequences  at  its  commencement. 
He  spoke  of  Lady  Hamilton,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife, 
as  a  young  woman  of  amiable  manners,  who  did 
honor  to  the  station  to  which  she  had  been  raised : 
and  he  remarked,  that  she  had  been  exceedingly  kind 
to  Josiah.  The  activity  with  which  the  envoy  ex- 
erted himself  in  procuring  troops  from  Naples  to 
assist  in  garrisoning  Toulon,  so  delighted  him,  that 
he  is  said  to  have  exclaimed,  "  Sir  William,  you  are 
a  man  after  my  own  heart ! — you  do  business  in  my 
own  way  :"  and  then  to  have  added,  "  I  am  now  only 
a  captain  ;  but  I  will,  if  I  live,  be  at  the  top  of  the 
tree."  Here,  also,  that  acquaintance  with  the  Nea- 
politan court  commenced,  which  led  to  the  only  blot 
upon  Nelson's  public  character.  The  king,  who  was 
sincere  at  that  time  in  his  enmity  to  the  French, 
called  the  English  the  saviors  of  Italy,  and  of  bis 


THE  LIFE  OF  NRT.flON. 


I  * 

i 


/ 


dominionH  in  particular.  TTo  paid  the  moHt  flattorinj;? 
attontion  to  NolHon,  made  him  dine  witli  liim,  and 
scatod  him  at  liiR  rip^lit  luind. 

Havinj?  accoinplinluMl  thiw  misHion,  Nolaon  received 
orders  to  join  Commodore  Linzeo,  at  Tunis.  On  the 
way,  five  sail  of  the  enemy  wore  discovered  off  tlie 
coast  of  Sardinia,  and  lie  ciuised  them.  They  proved 
to  bo  throe  forty-four  ^\\n  frijjjates,  with  a  corvette  of 
twenty-four,  and  a  bri^  of  twelve.  The  Apfamemnon 
had  only  345  men  at  quarters,  havinj::;  landed  part  of 
her  crew  at  Toulon,  and  others  being  absent  in  prizes. 
He  came  near  enonjj;h  one  of  the  frigates  to  engage 
her,  but  at  great  disadvantage,  the  Frenchman  ma- 
noeuvring well,  and  Hailing  greatly  better.  A  run- 
ning fight  of  three  hours  ensued ;  during  which  the 
other  ships,  which  were  at  some  distance,  made  all 
speed  to  come  up.  By  this  time  the  enemy  was  al- 
most silenced,  when  a  favorable  change  of  wind  en- 
abled her  to  get  out  of  reach  of  the  Agamemnon's 
guns :  and  that  ship  had  received  so  much  damage  in 
the  rigging  that  she  could  not  follow  her.  Nelson, 
conceiving  that  this  was  but  the  forerunner  of  a  far 
more  serious  engagement,  called  his  officers  together, 
and  asked  them  if  the  ship  was  fit  to  go  into  action 
against  such  a  superior  force,  without  some  small  re- 
fit and  refreshment  for  the  men?  Their  answer  was, 
that  she  certainly  was  not.  He  then  gave  these  or- 
ders :  '*  Veer  the  ship,  and  lay  her  head  to  the  west- 
ward :  let  some  of  the  best  men  be  employed  in  refit- 
ting the  rigging,  and  the  carpenter  getting  crows 
and  capstern-bars  to  prevent  our  wounded  spars  from 
coming  down ;  and  get  the  wine  up  for  the  people, 
with  some  bread,  for  it  may  be  half  an  hour  good 
before  we  are  again  in  action."  But  when  the 
French  came  up,  their  comrade  made  signals  of  dis- 
tress, and  they  all  hoisted  out  their  boats  to  go  to 
her  assistance,  leaving  the  Agamemnon  unmolested* 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


to 


Nelson  found  Commodore  Linzee  at  Tunis,  where 
he  had  been  sent  to  cxpoHtulato  with  the  dey  upon 
the  impolicy  of  iiis  supportiiij;  the  revolutionary  gov- 
ernment of  France.  Nelson  represented  to  him  the 
atrocity  of  that  government.  Such  arguments  were 
of  little  avail  in  Barbary :  and  when  the  dey  was 
told  that  the  French  had  put  their  sovereign  to  death, 
he  dryly  replied,  that  "  Nothing  could  be  more  hein- 
ous ;  and  yet,  if  historians  told  the  truth,  the  English 
had  once  done  the  same."  This  answer  had  doubt- 
less been  suggested  by  the  French  about  him :  they 
had  completely  gained  the  ascendency,  and  all  nego- 
tiation, on  our  part  proved  fruitles.:  Shortly  after- 
wards Nelson  was  detached  with  a  small  squadron, 
to  co-operate  with  General  Paoli  and  the  anti-Galli- 
can  party  in  Corsica. 

Some  thirty  years  before  this  time,  the  heroic  pa- 
triotism of  the  Corsicans,  and  of  their  leader,  Paoli, 
had  been  the  admiration  of  England.  The  history 
of  these  brave  people  is  but  a  melancholy  tale.  The 
island  which  they  inhabit  has  been  abundantly 
blessed  by  nature :  it  haw  many  excellent  harbors ; 
and  though  the  malaria,  or  pestilential  atmosphere, 
which  is  so  deadly  in  many  parts  of  Italy,  and  of  the 
Italian  islands,  prevails  on  flie  eastern  coast,  the 
greater  part  of  the  country  is  mountainous  and 
healthy.  It  is  about  150  miles  long,  and  from  40 
to  50  broad :  in  circumference,  some  320 :  —  a 
country  large  enough,  and  sufficiently  distant  from 
tlie  nearest  shores,  to  have  subsisted  as  an  independ- 
ent state,  if  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  the  human 
race  had  ever  been  considered  as  the  end  and  aim  of 
policy.  The  Moors,  the  Pisans,  the  kings  of  Arragon, 
and  the  Genoese,  successively  attempted,  and  each 
for  a  time  effected,  its  conquest.  The  yoke  of  the 
Genoese  continued  longest,  and  was  the  heaviest. 
These  petty  tyrants  ruled  with  an  iron  rod:    and 


04 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


/ 


when  at  any  time  a  patriot  rose  to  resist  their  op- 
pressions, if  they  failed  to  subdue  him  by  force,  they 
resorted  to  assassination.    At  the  commencement  of 
the  last  century  they  quelled  one  revolt  by  the  aid  of 
German  auxiliaries,  whom  the  Emperor  Charles  VI. . 
sent  against  a  people  who  had  never  offended  him, 
and  who  were  fighting  for  whatever  is  most  dear  to 
man.    In  1734  the  war  was  renewed :  and  Theodore, 
a  Westphalian  baron  then  appeared  upon  the  stage. 
In  that  age  men  were  not  ace    tomed  to  see  adven- 
turers play  for   kingdoms,  and    Theodore   became 
the   common   talk   of   Europe.      He  served  in  the 
French  armies ;  and  having  afterwards  been  noticed 
both  by  Ripperda  and  Alberoni,  their  example,  per- 
haps, inflamed  a  spirit  as  ambitious  and  as  unprin- 
cipled as  their  own.     He  employed  the  whole  of  his 
means  in  raising  money  and  procuring  arms ;  then 
wrote  to  the  leaders  of  the  Corsican  patriots,  to  offer 
them  considerable   assistance    if   they  would  erect 
Corsica  into  an  independent  kingdom,  and  elect  him 
king.      When   he  landed   among   them   they  were 
struck  with  his  stately  person,  his  dignified  manners, 
and  imposing  talents :  they  believed  the  magnificent 
promises  of  foreign  assistance  which  he  held  out, 
and  elected  him  king  accordingly.     Had  his  means 
been  as  he  represented  them,  they  could  not  have 
acted  more  wisely,  than  in  thus  at  once  fixing  the 
government  of  their  country,  and  putting  an  end  to 
those  rivalries  among  the  leading  families,  which  had 
so  often  proved  pernicious  to  the  public  weal.     He 
struck  money,  conferred  titles,  blocked  up  the  forti- 
fied towns  which  were   held  by  the  Genoese,  and 
amused  the  people  with  promises  of  assistance  for 
about  eight  months :  then,  perceiving  that  they  cooled 
in  their  affections  towards  him,  in  proportion  as  their 
expectations  were  disappointed,  he  left  the  island, 
under  the  plea  of  expediting  himself  the  succors 


/ 


THE  LIFE   OF   NELSON. 


which  he  had  so  long  awaited.  Such  was  his  address, 
that  he  prevailed  upon  several  rich  merchantH  in 
Holland,  particularly  the  Jews,  to  trust  him  with 
cannon  and  warlike  stores  to  a  great  amount.  They 
shipped  these  under  the  charge  of  a  supercargo. 
Theodore  returned  with  this  supercargo  to  Corsica, 
and  put  him  to  death  on  his  arrival,  as  the  shortest 
way  of  settling  the  account.  The  remainder  of  his 
life  was  a  series  of  deserved  afflictions.  He  threw 
in  the  stores  which  he  had  thus  fraudulently  obtained  : 
but  he  did  not  dare  to  land ;  for  Genoa  had  now 
called  in  the  French  to  their  assistance,  and  a  price 
had  been  set  upon  his  head.  His  dreams  of  royalty 
were  now  at  an  end :  he  took  refuge  i.i  London,  con- 
tracted debts,  and  was  thrown  into  t'^e  Kinp^'s  Bench. 
After  lingering  there  many  years,  he  wa  released 
under  an  act  of  insolvency :  in  cont  -quence  of 
which,  he  made  over  the  kingdom  r.f  Corsica  for  the 
use  of  his  creditors,  and  died  si  on  y  after  his  de- 
liverance. 

The  French,  who  have  never  acted  a  generous  part 
in  the  history  of  the  world,  readily  entered  into  the 
views  of  the  Genoese,  which  accorded  with  their  own 
policy  ;  for  such  was  their  ascendency  at  Genoa,  that 
in  subduing  Corsica  for  these  allies,  they  were  in  fact 
subduing  it  for  themselves.  They  entered  into  the 
contest,  therefore,  with  their  usual  vigor,  and  their 
usual  cruelty.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Corsicans  ad- 
dressed a  most  affecti'  ?^  memorial  to  the  court  of 
Versailles  ;  that  remorse  i<.  .^s  government  persisted  in 
its  flagitious  project.  They  poured  in  troops  ;  dressed 
a  part  of  them  like  the  people  of  the  country,  by 
which  means  they  deceived  and  destroyed  many  of 
the  patriots ;  cut  down  the  standing  corn,  the  vines, 
and  the  olives  ;  set  fire  to  the  villages,  and  hung  all 
the  most  able  and  active  men  who  fell  into  their 
hands.  A  war  of  this  kind  may  be  carried  on  with 
5 


ee 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


ii;ii 


succeLi  against  a  country  so  small  and  so  thinly 
peopled  as  Corsica.  Having  reduced  the  island  to 
perfect  servitude,  which  they  called  peace,  the  French 
withdrew  their  forces.  As  soon  as  they  were  gone, 
men,  women,  and  boys  rose  at  once  against  their 
oppressors.  The  circumstances  of  the  times  were 
now  favorable  to  them ;  and  some  British  ships,  act- 
ing as  allies  of  Sardinia,  bombarded  Bastia  and  St. 
Fiorenzo,  and  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of  the 
patriots.  The  service  was  long  remembered  with 
gratitude :  the  impression  made  upon  our  own  coun- 
trymen was  less  favorable.  They  had  witnessed  the 
heart-burning  of  rival  chiefs,  and  the  dissensions 
among  the  patriots ;  and  perceiving  the  state  of  bar- 
barism to  which  continual  oppression,  and  habits  of 
lawless  turbulence,  had  reduced  the  nation,  did  not 
recollect  that  the  vices  of  the  people  were  owing  to 
their  unhappy  circumstances ;  but  that  the  virtues 
which  they  displayed  arose  from  their  own  nature. 
This  feeling,  perhaps,  influenced  the  British  court, 
when,  in  1746,  Corsica  offered  to  put  herself  under 
the  protection  of  Great  Britain :  an  answer  was  re- 
turned expressing  satisfaction  at  such  a  communi- 
cation, hoping  that  the  Corsicans  would  preserve  the 
same  sentiments,  but  signifying  also  that  the  present 
was  not  the  time  for  such  a  measure. 

These  brave  islanders  then  formed  a  government 
for  themselves,  under  two  leaders,  Gaffori  and  Matra, 
who  had  the  title  of  protectors.  The  latter  is  repre- 
sented as  a  partisan  of  Genoa,  favoring  the  views  of 
the  oppressors  of  his  country  by  the  most  treason- 
able means.  Gaflfori  was  a  hero  worthy  of  old  times. 
His  eloquence  was  long  lemembered  with  admira- 
tion. A  band  of  assassins  was  once  advancing 
against  him ;  he  heard  of  their  approach,  and  went 
out  to  meet  them ;  and,  with  a  serene  dignity,  which 
overawed  them,  requested  them  to  hear  him :  he  then 


i 


THE  UFE  OF  NELSOK* 


61 


spake  to  them  so  forcibly  of  the  distresses  of  their 
country,  her  intolerable  wrongs,  and  the  hopes  and 
views  of  their  brethren  in  arms,  that  the  very  men 
who  had  been  hired  to  murder  him,  fell  at  his  feet, 
implored  his  forgiveness,  and  joined  his  banner. 
While  he  was  besieging  the  Genoese  in  Corte,  a  part 
of  the  garrison  perceiving  the  nurse  with  his  eldest 
son,  then  an  infant  in  arms,  straying  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  camp,  suddenly  sallied  out  and  seized 
them.  The  use  they  made  of  their  persons  was  in 
confonnity  with  their  usual  execrable  conduct. 
When  Gaffcri  advanced  to  batter  the  walls,  they  held 
up  the  child  directly  over  that  part  of  the  wall  at 
which  the  guns  were  pointed.  The  Corsicans  stop- 
ped :  but  Gaffori  stood  at  their  head  and  ordered 
them  to  continue  the  fire.  Piovidentially  the  child 
escaped,  and  lived  to  relate,  with  becoming  feeling, 
a  fact  so  honorable  to  his  father.  That  father  con- 
ducted the  affairs  of  the  island  till  1753,  when  he 
was  assassinated  by  some  wretches,  set  on,  it  is  be- 
lieved, by  Genoa ;  but  certainly  pensioned  by  that 
abominable  government  after  the  deed.  He  left  the 
country  in  such  a  state,  that  it  wa^  enabled  to  con- 
tinue the  war  two  years  after  his  death  without  a 
leader :  when  they  found  one  worthy  of  their  cause 
in  Pasquale  de  Paoli. 

Paoli's  father  was  one  of  the  patriots  who  effected 
their  escape  from  Corsica  when  the  French  reduced 
it  to  obedience.  He  retired  to  Naples,  and  brought 
up  this  his  youngest  son  in  the  Neapolitan  service. 
The  Corsicans  heard  of  young  Paoli's  abilities,  and 
solicited  him  to  come  over  to  his  native  country,  and 
take  the  command.  He  did  not  hesitate  long :  his 
father,  who  was  too  far  advanced  in  years  to  take  an 
active  part  himself,  encouraged  him  to  go ;  and 
when  they  separated,  the  old  man  fell  on  his  neck 
and  kissed  him,  and  gave  him  his  blessing.     ^^  My 


A 


J' 


68 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


son,"  said  he,  "  perhaps  I  may  never  see  you  more ; 
but  in  my  mind  I  shall  ever  be  present  with  you. 
Your  design  is  great  and  noble ;  and  I  doubt  not 
but  God  will  bless  you  in  it.  I  shall  devote  to  your 
cause  the  little  remainder  of  my  life,  in  offering  up 
my  prayers  for  your  success."  When  Paoli  assumed 
the  command,  he  found  all  things  in  confusion :  he 
formed  a  democratical  government,  of  which  he  was 
chosen  chief ;  restored  the  authority  of  the  laws ; 
established  an  university ;  and  took  such  measures, 
both  for  repressing  abuses  and  moulding  the  rising 
generation,  that  if  France  had  not  interfered,  upon 
its  wicked  and  destestable  principle  of  usurpation, 
Corsica  might,  at  this  day,  have  been  as  free,  and 
flourishing,  and  happy  a  commonwealth,  as  any  of 
the  Grecian  states  in  the  days  of  their  prosperity. 
The  Genoese  were  at  this  time  driven  out  of  their 
fortified  towns,  and  must  in  a  short  time  have  been 
expelled.  France  was  indebted  some  millions  of 
livres  to  Genoa :  it  was  not  convenient  to  pay  this 
money ;  so  the  French  minister  proposed  to  the 
Genoese,  that  he  should  discharge  the  debt  by  send- 
ing six  battalions  to  serve  in  Ccrnica  for  four  years. 
The  indignation  which  this  conduct  excited  in  all 
generous  hearts,  was  forcibly  expressed  by  Rous- 
seau, who,  w  ith  all  his  errors,  was  seldom  deficient  in 
feeling  for  the  wrongs  of  humanity.  "  You  French- 
men," said  he,  writing  to  one  of  that  people,  "  are 
a  thoroughly  servile  nation,  thoroughly  sold  to 
tyranny,  thoroughly  cruel,  and  relentless  in  perse- 
cuting tb^  unhappy.  If  they  knew  of  a  freeman 
at  the  )th»3r  end  of  the  world,  I  believe  they  would 
go  thither  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  extirpating  him." 
The  immediate  object  of  the  French  happened  to 
be  purely  mercenary  :  they  wanted  to  clear  off  their 
debt  to  Genoa  ;  and  as  the  presence  of  their  troops 
in  the  island  effected  this,  they  aimed  at  doing  the 


I 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


people  no  farther  mischief.  Would  that  the  con- 
duct of  England  had  been  at  this  time  free  from 
reproach !  but  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
English  government,  after  the  peace  of  Paris,  pro- 
hibiting any  intercourse  with  the  rebels  of  Corsica. 
Paoli  said  he  did  not  expect  this  from  Great  Britain. 
This  great  man  was  deservedly  proud  of  his  coun- 
try. **  I  defy  Rome,  Sparta,  or  Thebes,"  he  would 
say,  "  to  show  me  thirty  years  of  such  patriotism 
as  Corsica  can  boast !  "  Availing  himself  of  the  re- 
spite which  the  inactivity  of  the  French  and  the 
weakness  of  the  Genoese  allowed,  he  prosecuted  his 
plans  of  civilizing  the  people.  He  used  to  say,  that 
though  he  had  an  unspeakable  pride  in  the  prospect 
of  the  fame  to  which  he  aspired ;  yet,  if  he  could 
but  render  his  countrymen  happy,  he  would  be  con- 
tent to  be  forgotten.  His  own  importance  he  never 
atfected  to  undervalue.  "  We  are  now  to  our 
country,"  said  he,  "  like  the  prophet  Elisha,  stretched 
over  the  dend  body  of  the  Shunamite, — eye  to  eye, 
nose  to  nose,  mouth  to  mouth.  It  begins  to  recover 
warmth,  and  to  revive :  I  hope  it  will  yet  regain 
full  health  and  vigor." 

But  when  the  four  years  were  expired,  France 
purchased  the  sovereignty  of  Corsica  from  the  Gen- 
oese for  forty  millions  of  livres  :  as  if  the  Genoese 
had  been  entitled  to  sell  ii. ;  as  if  any  bargain  or 
sale  could  justify  one  country  in  taking  posrn  nsiou 
of  another  against  the  will  of  the  inhabitants.;  and 
butchering  all  who  oppose  the  usurpation !  Among 
the  enormities  which  France  has  committed,  this 
action  seems  but  as  a  speck ;  yet  the  foulest  mur- 
derer that  ever  suffered  by  the  hands  of  the  execu- 
tioner, has  infinitely  less  guilt  upon  his  soul  than 
the  statesman  who  concluded  this  treaty,  and  the 
monarch  who  sanctioned  and  confirmed  it.  A  des- 
perate and  glorious  resistance  was  made  ;  but  it  was 


f" 


.     \ 


TO 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


in  vain ;  no  power  interposed  in  behalf  of  these  in- 
jured islanders  and  the  French  poured  in  as  many 
troops  as  were  required.  They  offered  to  confirm 
Paoli  in  the  supreme  authority,  only  on  condition 
that  he  would  hold  it  under  their  government.  His 
answer  was,  "  that  the  rocks  which  sun'ounded  him 
should  melt  away  before  he  would  betray  a  cause 
which  he  held  in  common  with  the  poorest  Corsi- 
can."  This  people  then  set  a  price  upon  his  head. 
During  two  campaigns  he  kept  them  at  bay .  they 
overpowered  him  at  length :  he  was  driven  to  the 
shore.,  and  having"  escaped  on  ship-board,  took 
refiige  in  England.  It  is  said  that  Lord  Shelburne 
resigned  his  seat  in  the  cabinet,  because  the  minis- 
try looked  on,  without  attempting  to  prevent  France 
from  succeeding  in  this  abominable  and  important 
act  of  aggrandisement.  In  one  respect,  however, 
our  country  acted  as  became  her.  Paoli  was  wel- 
comed with  the  honors  which  he  deserved,  a  pension 
of  £1,200  per  annum  was  immediately  granted 
him  ;  and  provision  was  liberally  made  for  his  elder 
brother  and  his  nephew. 

Above  twenty  years  Paoli  remained  in  England, 
enjoying  the  friendship  of  the  wise,  and  the  admira- 
tion of  the  good.  But  when  the  French  revolution 
began,  it  seemed  as  if  the  restoration  of  Corsica 
was  at  hand.  The  whole  counti-y,  as  if  animated  by 
one  spirit-  rose  and  demanded  liberty ;  and  the  na- 
tional assembly  passed  a  decree,  recognizing  the 
island  as  a  department  of  France,  and  therefore 
entitled  lo  all  the  privileges  of  the  new  French 
constitution.  This  satisfied  the  Corsicans,  which  it 
ought  not  to  have  done ;  and  Paoli,  in  whom  the 
ardor  of  youth  was  past,  seeing  that  his  country- 
men were  contented,  and  believing  that  they  were 
about  to  enjoy  a  state  of  freedom,  naturally  wished 
to  return  to  his  native  country.     He  resigned  his 


■■'   f 


,      / 


] 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


pension  in  the  year  1790,  and  appeared  at  the  bar 
of  the  assembly  with  the  Corsican  deputies,  when 
they  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  France.  But  the 
course  of  events  in  France  soon  dispilled  those 
hopes  of  a  new  and  better  order  of  things,  which 
Paoli,  in  common  with  so  many  of  the  friends  of 
humankind,- had  indulged :  and  perceiving,  after  the 
execution  of  the  king,  that  a  civil  war  was  about  to 
ensue,  of  which  no  man  could  foresee  the  issue,  he 
prepared  to  break  the  connection  between  Corsica 
and  the  French  Republic.  The  convention,  sus- 
pecting such  a  design,  and  perhaps  occasioning  it  by 
their  suspicions,  ordered  him  to  their  bar.  That 
way,  he  well  knew,  led  to  the  guillotine ;  and,  re- 
turning a  respectful  answer,  he  declared  that  he 
would  never  be  found  wanting  in  his  duty,  but 
pleaded  age  and  infirmity  as  a  reason  for  disobey- 
ing the  summons.  Their  second  order  was  more 
summary  :  and  the  French  troops  who  were  in  Cor- 
sica, aided  by  those  of  the  natives,  who  were  either 
influenced  by  hereditary  party  feelings,  or  who  were 
sincere  in  Jacobinism,  took  the  field  against  him. 
But  the  people  were  with  him.  He  repaired  to 
Corte,  the  capital  of  the  island,  and  was  again  ii- 
vested  with  the  authority  which  he  had  held  in  the 
noonday  of  his  fame.  The  convention  upon  this 
denounced  him  as  a  rebel,  and  set  a  price  upon  his 
head.  It  was  not  the  first  time  that  France  had 
proscribed  Paoli. 

Paoli  now  opened  a  coriispondence  with  Lord 
Hood,  promising,  if  the  English  would  make  an 
attack  upon  St.  Fiorenzo  from  the  sea,  he  would,  at 
the  same  time  attack  it  by  land.  This  promise  he 
was  uuabl  •  to  perform :  and  Commodore  Linzee, 
who,  in  reliance  upon  5  was  sent  upon  th's  service, 
was  repulsed  with  some  loss.  Lord  He  1,  who  had 
now  been  compelled  to  evacuate  Toulon,  suspected 


r 


r. 


72 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


i:;i 


II 


In  ft 


l-';ioli  of  intentionally  deceiving  him.  This  was  an 
injurious  suspicion.  Shortly  afterwards  he  de- 
<<patched  Lieutenant-Colonel  (afterwards  Sir  John) 
Moc^e  and  Major  Koehler  to  confer  -^xhb.  him  i^pon 
a  plan  of  operations.  Sir  Gilbert  ElJiott  accom- 
panied them :  cind  it  was  agreed  upon  tl^at,  in  coi- 
sideratio*.  of  the  succors,  both  milifnry  ai' :  d:  val, 
which  his  Britjinnic  IMajesty  bhould  uflford  for  the 
purpose  of  expelling  the  French^  the  iss^and  of  Cor- 
sica .should  be  deiirered  ir.  o  the  immediate  posses- 
sion of  his  MajtiSiy,  and  bine",  itself  to  aoquie^^ce  'a 
any  settlement  he  might  approve  i'.>i  concerning  ifs 
gOYernmf'i\i  and  its  future  relallo?^  with  Grc  '  Biit- 
aivK  "Whii  •  this  negotiation  was  going  on,  Kelson 
cruised  off  the  i<?5land  with  a  small  squadron,  to  pre- 
vent tin  f  n«  my  from  throwing  in  supplies.  Close 
to  St.  I'lorePiZO  the  French  had  a  store-house  of 
Hour,  mar  their  only  mill :  he  watched  an  opportu- 
}iity,  and  lauded  120  men,  who  threw  the  flour  into 
the  sea,  burnt  the  mill,  and  re-ciiibarked,  before 
1000  men,  who  were  sent  against  hiai,  could  occa-  . 
sion  him  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  While  he  ex- 
erted himself  thus,  keeping  out  all  supplies,  inter- 
cepting despatches,  attacking  their  out-posts  and 
forts,  and  cutting  out  vessels  from  the  bay — a  spe- 
cies of  warfare  which  depresses  the  spirits  of  an 
enemy  even  more  than  it  injures  them,  because  of 
the  sense  of  individual  superiority  which  it  indicates 
in  the  assailants, — troops  were  landed,  and  St.  Fio- 
renzo  was  besieged.  The  French,  finding  them- 
selves unable  to  maintain  that  post,  sunk  one  of 
their  frigates,  burnt  another,  and  retreated  to  Bas- 
tia.  Lord  Hood  submitted  to  General  Dundas,  who 
commanded  the  land  forces,  a  plan  for  the 'reduc- 
tion of  this  place:  the  general  declined  co-operat- 
ing, thinking  the  attempt  impracti< ;' >le,  without  a 
reinforcement  of  2000  men,  which  1 :     -pected  from 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 


5 


I 

I 


Gribraltar.  Upon  this  Lord  Hood  determined  to 
reduce  it  with  the  ^.aval  force  under  his  command : 
and  leaving  part  A  his  fleet  off  Toulon,  he  came 
with  the  rest  to  Bastia. 

He  showed  p  proper  sense  of  respect  for  Nelson's 
services,  and  of  confidence  in  his  talents,  by  taking 
care  not  to  bring  with  him  any  older  captain.  A 
few  days  before  their  arrival,  Nelson  had  what  he 
called  a  brush  with  the  enemy.  "  If  I  had  had  with 
me  five  Hundred  troops,"  he  said,  "to  a  certainty  I 
should  have  stormed  the  town,  and  I  believe  it  might 
have  been  carried.  Annies  go  so  slow,  that  seamen 
think  they  never  mean  to  get  forward :  but  I  dare 
say  they  act  on  a  surer  principle,  although  we  sel- 
dom fail."  During  this  partial  action  our  army 
appeared  upon  the  heights ;  and  having  reconnoi- 
tred the  place,  returned  to  St.  Fiorenzo.  "What 
the  general  could  have  seen  to  make  a  retreat  neces- 
sary," said  Nelson,  "  I  cannot  comprehend.  A  thou- 
sand men  would  certainly  take  Bastia ;  with  five 
hundred  and  Agamemnon  I  would  attempt  it.  My 
seamen  are  now  what  British  seamen  ought  to  be — 
almost  invincible.  They  really  mind  shot  no  more 
than  peas."  General  Dundas  had  not  the  same 
confidence.  "  After  mature  consideration,"  said  he 
in  a  letter  to  Lord  Hood,  "  and  a  personal  inspec- 
tion for  several  days  of  all  circumstances,  local  as 
well  as  others,  I  consider  the  siege  of  Bastia,  with 
our  present  means  and  force,  to  be  a  most  visionary 
and  rash  attempt ;  °uch  as  no  oflEicer  would  be  justi- 
fied in  undertaking.'*  Lord  Hood  replied,  that  noth- 
ing would  be  more  gratifying  to  his  feelings  than 
to  have  the  whole  responsibility  upon  himself  ;  and 
thrt  he  was  ready  and  willing  to  undel'take  the  re- 
duction of  the  place  at  his  own  risk,  with  the  force 
anJ  means  at  present  there.  General  d'Aubant, 
who  succeeded  at  this  time  to  the  command  of  the 


m 


74 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


army,  coincided  in  opinion  with  his  predecessor,  and 
did  not  think  it  right  to  furnish  his  lordship  with  a 
single  soldier,  cannon,  or  any  stores.  Lord  Hood 
could  only  obtain  a  few  artillerymen  ;  and  ordering 
on  board  that  part  of  the  troops,  who,  having  been 
embarked  as  marines,  were  borne  on  the  ships' 
books  as  paii;  of  their  respective  complements,  he 
began  the  siege  with  1183  soldiers,  artillerymen, 
and  marines,  and  250  sailors.  "  We  are  but  few," 
said  Nelson,  *'  but  of  the  right  sort ;  our  general  at 
St.  Fiorenzo  not  giving  us  one  of  the  five  regiments 
he  has  there  lying  idle." 

These  men  were  landed  on  the  4th  of  April,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Villettes  and  Nelson,  who  had 
now  aCv  nired  from  the  army  tue  title  of  brigadier. 
Guns  were  dragged  by  the  sailors  up  heights  where 
it  appeared  almost  impossible  to  convey  them ; — a 
work  of  the  g^'eatest  diflSculty ;  and  which  Nelson 
said  could  never,  in  his  opinion,  have  been  accom- 
plished by  £,ny  but  British  seamen.  The  soldiers, 
though  less  dexterous  in  such  service,  because  not 
accustomed,  like  sailors,  to  habitual  dexterity,  be- 
haved with  equal  spirit.  "  Their  zeal,"  said  the 
brigadier,  "  is  almost  unexampled.  There  is  not  a 
man  but  considers  himself  as  pt  .'sonally  interested  in 
the  event,  and  deserted  by  the  general.  It  has,  I 
am  persuaded,  made  them  equal  to  double  their 
numbers."  This  is  one  proof,  of  many,  that  for  our 
soldiers  to  equal  our  seamen,  it  is  only  necessary  for 
them  to  be  equally  well  commanded.  They  have 
the  same  heart  and  soul,  as  weU  as  the  same  flesh 
and  blood.  Too  much  may,  indited,  be  exacted  from 
them  in  a  retreat ;  but  set  their  face  toward  a  foe, 
and  there  is  nothing  within  the  reach  of  human 
achievement  which  they  cannot  perform.  The 
French  had  improved  the  leisure  which  our  military 
commander  had  allowed   them;    and  before   Lord 


THE  LIFB  OF  NELSON. 


75 


i 


Hood  commenced  his  operations,  he  had  the  morti- 
cation  of  seeing  that  the  enemy  were  every  day 
erecting  new  works,  strengthening  old  ones,  and 
rendering  the  attempt  more  diflScult.  La  Combe 
St.  Michel,  the  commissioner  from  the  national 
convention,  who  was  in  the  city,  replied  in  these 
terms  to  the  summons  of  the  British  admiral:  "I 
have  hot  shot  for  your  ships,  and  bayonets  for  your 
troops.  "When  two-thirds  of  our  men  are  killed,  I 
will  then  trust  to  the  generosity  of  the  English." 
The  siege,  however,  was  not  sustained  with  the  firm- 
ness which  such  a  reply  seemed  to  augur.  On  the 
19th  of  May  a  treaty  of  capitulation  was  begun : 
that  same  evening  the  troops  from  St.  Fiorenzo 
made  their  appearance  on  the  hills ;  and,  on  the 
following  morning.  General  d'Aubant  arrived  with 
the  whole  army  to  take  possession  of  Bastia. 

The  event  of  the  siege  had  justified  the  confidence 
of  the  sailors ;  but.  they  themselves  excused  the 
opinion  of  the  generals,  when  they  saw  what  they 
had  done.  "  I  am  all  astonishment,'  said  Nelson, 
"  when  I  reflect  upon  what  we  have  achieved : 
1000  regulars,  1500  national  guards,  ai  .  large 
party  of  Corsican  troops,  4000  in  all,  laying  down 
their  arms  to  1200  soldiers,  marines,  and  seamen ! 
I  always  was  of  opinion,  have  ever  acted  up  to  it, 
and  never  had  any  reason  to  repent  it,  that  one 
Englishman  was  equal  to  three  Frenchmen.  Had 
this  been  an  English  town,  I  am  sure  it  would  not 
have  been  taken  by  them."  "When  it  had  been 
resolved  to  attack  the  place,  the  enpsmv  was  sup- 
posed to  be  far  inferior  in  number;  ■  t  was  not 
till  the  whole  had  been  arranged,  and  the  siege  pub- 
licly undertaken,  that  Nelson  received  certain  infor- 
mation of  the  great  superiority  of  the  garrison.  This 
intelligence  he  kept  secret^  fearing  lest,  if  so  fair  a 
pretext  were  afforded,  the  attempt  would  be  aban- 


V 

i 


.!  ■! 


r  X 


r  t 

« 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


doned.  "My  own  honor,"  said  he  to  his  wife, 
**  Lord  Hood's  honor,  and  the  honor  of  our  coun- 
try, must  have  been  sacrificed,  but  I  mentioned  what 
I  knew  t!.\  ''e'ore  you  will  believe  what  must  have 
been  ^  •  I  M  ^^s  during  the  whole  siege,  when  I 
had  oj  ten  proposals  made  to  me  to  write  to  Lord 
Hood  to  raise  it."  Those  very  persons  who  thus 
advised  him,  were  rewarded  for  their  conduct  at  the 
siege  of  Bastia :  Nelson,  by  whom  it  might  be  truly 
affirmed  that  Bastin  w  ..,ven.  received  no  reward. 
Lord  Hood's  thanits  to  him,  both  public  and  private, 
were,  as  he  himself  said,  the  handsomest  which  man 
could  give :  but  his  signal  merits  were  not  so  men- 
tioned in  the  despatches,  as  to  make  them  sulffi- 
ciently  known  to  the  nation,  nor  to  obtain  for  him 
from  government  those  honors  to  which  they  so 
amply  entitled  him.  This  could  only  have  arisen 
from  the  haste  in  which  the  despatches  were  writ- 
ten ;  certainly  not  from  any  deliberate  purpose,  for 
Lord  Hood  was  uniformly  his  steady  "nd  sincere 
friend. 

One  of  the  cartel's  ships,  which  carried  the  gar- 
rison of  Bastia  to  Toulon,  brought  back  intelligence 
that  the  French  were  about  to  sail  from  that  port ; 
— such  exertions  had  they  made  to  repair  the  dam- 
age done  at  ^be  evacuation,  and  to  fit  out  a  fleet. 
The  intelligence  was  speedily  verified.  Lord  Hood 
sailed  n  qiipjt  of  them  toward  the  islands  of 
Hieres.  The  Agamemnon  was  with  him.  "  I  pray 
God,"  said  Nelson,  writing  to  his  wife,  "that  we 
may  mec  i>  ciieir  fleet.  If  any  accident  should  hap- 
pen to  me,  I  am  sure  my  conduct  wUl  be  such  as 
will  entitle  you  to  the  'vyal  favor ; — not  that  I  have 
the  least  idea  but  I  stiall  return  to  you,  and  full  of 
honor: — if  not,  '  Lt  rd's  will  be  done.  My  name 
shall  never  be  a  ci'sgrii  e  to  those  who  may  belong  to 
me.    The  little  I  have,  I  have  given  to  you,  except 


THE  LIFE  OF   NELSON. 


77 


a  small  aunuity ;  I  wish  it  was  more ;  but  I  have 
never  got  a  farthing  dishonestly — it  descends  from 
clean  hands.  Whatever  fate  awaits  me,  I  pray  God 
to  bless  you,  and  preserve  you  for  your  son's  sake." 
"With  a  mind  thus  prepared,  and  thus  confident,  his 
hopes  and  wishes  seemed  on  the  point  of  being  grat- 
ified, when  the  enemv  was  discovered  close  under 
the  land  near  St.  Tropez.  The  wind  fell,  and  pre- 
vented Lord  Hood  from  getting  between  them  and 
the  shore,  as  he  designed :  boats  came  out  from 
Antibes  an<l  other  places,  to  their  assistance,  and 
towed  them  within  the  shoals  in  Gourjean  roads, 
where  they  were  protected  by  batteries  on  isles  St. 
Honore  and  St.  Marguerite,  and  on  Cape  Garousse. 
Here  the  English  admiral  planned  a  new  mode  of 
attack,  meaning  to  double  on  five  of  the  nearest 
ships ;  but  the  wind  again  died  away,  and  it  was 
found  that  they  had  anchored  in  compact  order, 
guarding  the  only  passage  for  large  ships.  There 
was  no  way  of  effecting  this  passage,  except  by  tow- 
ing or  warping  the  vessels ;  and  this  rendered  the 
attempt  impracticable.  For  this  time  the  enemy 
escaped :  but  Nelson  bore  in  mind  the  admirable 
plan  of  attack  which  Lord  Hood  had  devised,  and 
there  came  a  day  when  they  felt  its  tremendous 
effects. 

The  Agamemnon  was  now  despatched  to  co-oper- 
ate at  the  siege  of  Calvi  with  General  Sir  Charles 
Stuart ;  an  officer  who,  unfortunately  for  his  coun- 
try, never  had  an  adequate  field  allotted  him  for  the 
display  of  those  eminent  talents,  which  were,  to  all 
who  knew  him,  so  conspicuous.  Nelson  had  less 
responsibility  here  than  at  Bastia ;  and  was  acting 
with  a  man  after  his  own  heart,  who  was  never 
sparing  of  himself,  and  slept  every  night  in  the  ad- 
vanced battery.  But  the  service  was  not  less  hard 
than  that  of  the  former  siege.     "  We  will  fag  our- 


THE  LTPB  OF  NELSON. 


/ 


;■  m 


selves  to  death,"  said  he  to  Lord  Hood,  *' before 
any  blame  shall  lie  at  our  doors.  I  trust  it  will  not 
be  forgotten  that  twenty-five  pieces  of  heavy  ord- 
nance have  been  dragged  to  the  different  batteries, 
mounted,  and  all  but  three  fought  by  seamen,  ex- 
cept one  artilleryman  to  point  the  guns."  The  cli- 
mate proved  more  destructive  than  the  service  ;  for 
this  was  during  the  period  of  the  '•''  lion  sun,"  as 
they  there  call  our  season  of  the  "  dog  days."  Of 
2000  men  above  half  were  sick,  and  the  rest  like  so 
many  phantoms.  Nelson  described  himself  as  the 
reed  among  the  oaks,  bowing  before  the  storm  when 
they  were  laid  low  by  it.  "  AH  the  prevailing  disor- 
ders have  attacked  me,"  said  he,  **but  I  have  not 
strength  enough  for  them  to  fasten  on."  The  loss 
from  the  enemy  was  not  great ;  but  Nelson  received 
a  serious  injui*y :  a  shot  struck  the  ground  near 
him,  and  drove  the  sand  and  small  gravel  into  one 
of  his  eyes.  He  spoke  of  it  slightly  at  the  time : 
writing  the  same  day  to  Lord  Hood,  he  only  said, 
that  he  got  a  little  hurt  that  morning,  not  much ; 
and  the  next  day  he  said,  he  should  be  able  to 
attend  his  duty  in  the  evening.  In  fact,  he  suffered 
it  to  confine  him  only  one  day ;  but  the  sight  was 
lost. 

After  the  fall  of  Calvi,  his  services  were,  by  a 
strange  omission,  altogether  overlooked :  and  his 
name  was  not  even  mentioned  in  the  list  of  wounded. 
This  was  no  ways  imputable  to  the  admiral,  for  he 
sent  home  to  government  Nelson's  journal  of  the 
siege,  that  they  might  fully  understand  the  nature 
of  his  indefatigable  and  unequalled  exertions.  If 
those  exertions  were  not  rewarded  in  the  conspicu- 
ous manner  which  they  deserved,  the  fault  was  in 
the  administration  of  the  day,  not  in  Lord  Hood. 
Nelson  felt  himself  neglected.  "  One  hundred  and 
ten  days,"  said  he,  "I  have  been  actually  engaged, 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


If 


at  sea  and  on  shore,  against  the  enemy ;  three  ac- 
tions against  ships,  two  against  Bastia  in  my  ship, 
four  boat  actions,  and  two  villages  taken,  and  twelve 
sail  of  vessels  burnt.  I  do  not  know  that  any  one 
has  done  more.  I  have  had  the  comfort  to  be  always 
applauded  by  my  commander-in-chief,  but  never  to 
be  rewarded :  and,  what  is  more  mortifying,  for 
services  in  which  I  have  been  wounded,  others  have 
been  praised,  who,  at  the  same  time,  were  actually 
in  bed,  far  from  the  scene  of  action.  They  have 
not  done  me  justice.  But,  never  mind,  1*11  have  a 
*  Gazette '  of  my  own."  How  amply  was  this 
second-sight  of  glory  realized ! 

The  health  of  his  ship's  company  had  now,  in  his 
own  words,  been  miserably  torn  to  pieces  by  as  hard 
service  as  a  ship's  crew  ever  performed :  150  were 
in  their  beds  when  he  left  Calvi ;  of  them  he  lost 
fifty :  and  believed  that  the  constitutions  of  the  rest 
were  entirely  destroyed.  He  was  now  sent  with 
despatches  to  Mr.  Drake,  at  Genoa,  and  had  his 
first  interview  with  the  doge.  The  French  had,  at 
this  time,  taken  possession  of  Yado  Bay,  in  the 
Genoese  tenitory ;  and  Nelson  foresaw,  that  if  their 
thoughts  were  bent  on  the  invasion  of  Italy,  they 
would  accomplish  it  the  ensuing  spring.  *'The 
allied  powers,"  he  said,  *'  were  jealous  of  each 
other;  and  none  but  England  was  hearty  in  the 
cause."  His  wish  was  for  peace,  on  fair  terms,  be- 
cause England,  he  thought,  was  draining  herself  to 
maintain  allies  who  would  not  fight  for  themselves. 
Lord  Hood  had  now  returned  to  England,  and 
the  command  devolved  on  Admiral  Hotham.  The 
affairs  of  the  Mediterranean  wore  at  this  time  a 
gloomy  aspect.  The  arts,  as  well  as  the  arms  of 
the  enemy,  were  gaining  the  ascendancy  there. 
Tuscany  concluded  peace,  relying  upon  the  faith  of 
France,  which  was,  in  fact,  placing  itself   at  her 


fssim^^^sMki^^^i^ii^:  _ 


80 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


l!«,'i 


Mi! 


mercy.  Corsica  was  in  danger.  We  had  taken  that 
island  for  ourselves,  annexed  it  formally  to  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  given  it  a  constitution 
as  free  as  our  own.  This  was  dona  with  the  consent 
of  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants :  and  no  transac- 
tion between  two  countries  was  ever  more  fairly  or 
legitimately  conducted :  yet  our  conduct  was  un- 
wise ; — the  island  is  large  enough  to  form  an  inde- 
pendent state,  and  such  we  should  have  made  it, 
under  our  protection,  as  long  as  protection  might 
be  needed.  The  Corsicans  would  then  have  felt  as 
a  nation ;  but  when  one  party  had  given  up  the 
country  to  England,  the  natual  consequence  was, 
that  the  other  looked  to  France.  The  question  pro- 
posed to  the  people  was,  to  which  would  they  be- 
long ?  Our  1&  aguage  and  our  religion  were  against 
us  ;  our  unaccommodating  manners,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
still  more  so.  The  French  were  better  politicians. 
In  intrigue  they  have  ever  been  unrivalled ;  and  it 
now  became  apparent  that,  in  spite  of  old  wrongs, 
which  ought  never  to  have  been  forgotten  or  for- 
given, their  partisans  were  daily  acquiring  strength. 
It  is  part  of  the  policy  of  France,  and  a  wise  policy 
it  is,  to  impress  upon  other  powers  the  opinion  of 
its  strength,  by  lofty  language,  and  by  threatening 
before  it  strikes  ;  a  system  which,  while  it  keeps  up 
the  spirit  of  its  allies,  and  perpetually  stimulates 
their  hopes,  tends  also  to  dismay  its  enemies.  Cor- 
sica was  now  loudly  threatened.  The  French,  who 
had  not  yet  been  taught  to  feel  their  own  inferiority 
npon  the  seas,  braved  us,  ia  contempt,  upon  that 
element.  They  had  a  superior  fleet  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, and  they  sent  it  out  with  express  orders  to 
seek  the  English  and  engage  them.  Accordingly, 
the  Toulon  fle^.t,  consisting  of  seventeen  ships  of 
the  line,  and  five  smaller  vessels,  put  to  sea.  Ad- 
miral Hotham  received  this  information  at  Leghorn, 


f     ' 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


to 
of 


and  sailed  immediately  in  search  of  them.  He  had 
with  him  fourteen  sail  of  the  line,  and  one  Neapoli- 
tan seventy-four:  but  his  ships  were  only  half 
manned,  containing  but  7,650  men,  whereas  the 
enemy  had  16,900.  He  soon  came  in  sight  of  them : 
a  general  action  was  expected  ;  and  Nelson,  as  was 
his  custom  on  such  occasions,  wrote  a  hasty  letter 
to  his  wife,  as  that  which  might  possibly  contain  his 
last  farewell.  "  The  lives  of  all,"  said  he,  "  are  in 
the  hands  of  Him  who  knows  best  whether  to  pre- 
serve mine  or  not :  my  character  and  good  name 
are  in  my  own  keeping." 

But  however  confident  the  French  government 
might  be  of  their  naval  superiority,  the  officers  had 
no  such  feeling ;  and  after  manoeuvring  for  a  day, 
in  sight  of  the  English  fleet,  they  suffered  them- 
selves to  be  chased.  One  of  their  3hips,  the  Ca  Ira, 
of  eighty-four  guns,  carried  away  her  main  and  fore 
top-masts.  The  Inconstant  frigate  fired  at  the  dis- 
abled ship,  but  received  so  many  shot  that  she  was 
obliged  to  leave  her.  Soon  afterwards  a  French 
frigate  took  the  Ca  Ii'a  in  tow ;  and  the  Sans- 
Culottes,  one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  the  Jean 
Barras,  seventy-four,  kept  about  gunshot  distance 
on  her  weather  bow.  The  Agamemnon  stood  to- 
wards her,  having  no  ship  of  the  line  to  support  her 
within  several  miles.  As  she  drew  near,  the  Ca  Ii'a 
fired  her  stern  guns  yo  truly,  that  not  a  shot  missed 
scice  part  ©f  the  ship,  and,  latterly,  the  masts  were 
struck  by  every  shot.  It  had  been  Nelson's  inten- 
tion not  to  fire  before  he  touched  her  stern ;  but  see- 
ing how  impossible  it  was  he  should  be  supported, 
and  how  certainly  the  Agamemnon  must  be  severely 
cut  up,  if  her  masts  were  disabled,  he  altered  hia 
plan  according  to  the  occasion.  As  soon,  therefore, 
as  he  was  within  a  hundred  yards  of  her  stern,  he 
ordered  the  helm  to  be  put  a-starboard,  and  the 


:■•>     I 


h 


M  THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 

driver  and  after-sails  to  be  brailed  up  and  shivered ; 
.and,  as  the  ship  fell  ofif,  gave  the  enemy  her  whole 
broadside.  They  instantly  braced  up  the  after-yards, 
put  the  helm  a-pt»'t,  and  stood  after  her  again.  This 
manceuvre  he  practiced  for  two  hours  and  a  quarter, 
never  allowing  the  Ca  Ira  to  get  a  single  gun  from 
either  side  to  bear  on  him ;  and  Then  the  French 
fired  their  after-guns  now,  it  was  no  longer  with 
coolness  and  precision,  for  every  shot  went  far 
a-head.  By  this  time  her  sails  were  hanging  in  tat- 
ters, her  mizen-top-mast  mizen-top-sail,  and  croos- 
jack-yards  shot  away.  But  the  frigate  which  had  her 
in  tow  hove  in  stays,  and  got  her  round.  Both  these 
French  ships  now  brought  their  guns  to  bear,  and 
opened  their  fire.  The  Agamemnon  passed  them 
within  half -pistol  shot ;  almost  every  shot  passed 
over  her,  for  the  French  had  elevated  their  guns  for 
the  rigging,  and  for  distant  firing,  and  did  not  think 
of  altering  the  elevation.  As  soon  as  the  Agamem- 
non's after  guns  ceased  to  bear,  she  hove  in  stays, 
keeping  a  constant  fire  as  she  came  round  ;  and  being 
worked,  said  Nelson,  with  as  much  exactness  as  if 
she  had  been  turning  into  Spithead.  On  gettiug 
round,  he  saw  that  the  Sans-Culottes,  which  had 
wore,  with  many  of  the  enemy's  ships,  was  under 
his  lee  bow,  ai^d  standing  to  leeward.  The  admiral, 
at  the  same  time,  made  the  signal  for  the  van  ships 
to  join  him.  Upon  this  Nelson  bore  away,  and  pre- 
pared to  set  all  sail ;  and  the  enemy,  having  saved 
their  ship,  hauled  close  to  the  wind,  and  opened 
upon  him  a  distant  and  ineffectual  fire.  Only  seven 
of  the  Agamemnon's  men  were  hurt — a  thing  which 
Nelson  himseir  remarked  as  wonderful :  her  sails 
and  rigging  were  very  much  cut,  and  she  had  many 
shots  in  her  hull,  and  some  between  wind  and  water. 
The  Ca  Ira  lost  110  men  that  day,  and  was  so  cut 
up,  that  she  could  not  get  a  top-mast  aloft  during 
the  night. 


r» 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


At  day-light  on  the  following  morning,  the  Eng- 
lish ships  were  taken  aback  with  a  finft  breeze  at. 
N.  W.  while  the  enemy's  fleet  kept  the  southerly 
wind.  The  body  of  their  fleet  was  iibout  five  miles 
distant ;  the  Ca  Ira,  and  the  Censeur,  seventy-four, 
which  had  her  in  tow,  about  three  and  a  half.  All 
sail  was  made  to  cui  these  ships  off ;  and,  as  the 
French  attempted  to  save  them,  a  partial  action  was 
brought  on.  The  Agamemnon  was  again  engaged 
with  her  yesterday's  antagonist ;  but  she  had  to  fight 
on  both  sides  the  ship  at  the  same  time.  The  Ca  Ira 
and  the  Censeur  fought  most  gallantly  :  the  first  lost 
nearly  300  men,  in  addition  to  her  former  loss  ;  the 
last,  350.  Both  at  last  struck  :  and  Lieutenant  An- 
drews of  the  Agamemnon,  brother  to  the  lady  to 
whom  Nelson  had  become  attached  in  France,  and, 
in  Nelson's  ov^n  words,  "  as  gallant  an  officer  as  ever 
stepped  a  qii  liter-deck,"  hoisted  English  colors  on 
board  them  both.  The  rest  of  the  enemy's  ships 
behaved  very  ill.  As  soon  as  these  vessels  had 
struck.  Nelson  went  to  Admiral  Hotham,  and  pro- 
posed that  the  two  prizes  should  be  left  with  the 
Illustrious  and  Courageux,  which  had  been  crippled 
in  the  action,  and  with  four  frigates,  and  that  the 
rest  of  the  fleet  should  pursue  the  enemy,  and  follow 
up  the  advantage  to  the  utmost.  But  his  reply  was, 
— "  We  must  be  contented  :  we  have  done  very  well." 
"  Now,"  said  Nelson,  "  had  we  taken  ten  sail,  and 
allowed  the  eleventh  to  escape,  when  it  had  been 
possible  to  have  got  her,  I  could  never  have  called 
it  vieW  done.  Goodall  backed  m.e:  I  got  hira  to 
write  to  the  admiral ;  but  it  would  not  do.  We 
should  have  had  such  a  day  as,  I  believe,  the  annals 
of  England  never  produced."  In  this  letter,  the 
character  of  Nelson  fully  manifests  itself.  "  I  wish," 
said  he,  "  to  be  an  admiral,  and  in  the  command  of 
the  English  fleet ;  I  should  very  soon  either  do  much, 


■\    .' ". 


^  , :  f 

ill 

'  i, 

■  M 


H        .<        ! 


^     ' 


M    ■  i 


8i  THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 

or  be  ruined :  my  disposition  cannot  bear  tame  and 
slow  measures.  Sure  I  am,  had  I  commanded  on 
the  14th,  that  either  the  whole  French  fleet  would 
have  graced  my  triumph,  or  I  should  have  been  in  a 
confounded  scrape."  What  the  event  would  have 
been,  he  knew  from  his  prophetic  feelings  and 
his  own  consciousness  of  power :  and  we  also  know 
it  now,  for  Aboukir  and  Trafalgar  have  told  it 
us. 

Tba  Ca  Ira  and  Censeur  probably  defended  them- 
selves with  more  obstinacy  in  this  action,  from  a  per- 
suasion that,  if  they  struck,  no  quarter  would  be 
given  ;  because  they  had  iired  r.id-hot  shot,  and  had 
also  a  preparation,  sent,  as  tl  ey  said,  by  the  con- 
vention from  Paris,  whioh  seems  to  have  been  of  the 
nature  of  the  Greek  fire  ;  for  it  became  liquid  when 
H  was  discharged,  and  water  would  not  extinguish  its 
flames.  This  combustible  was  concealed  with  great 
care  in  the  captured  ships :  like  the  red-hot  shot,  it 
had  been  found  useless  in  battle.  Admiral  Hotham's 
action  saved  Corsica  for  the  time ;  but  the  victory 
had  been  incomplete,  and  the  arrival  at  Toulon  of 
six  sail  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  and  two  cutters, 
from  Brest,  gave  the  French  a  superiority  which, 
had  they  known  how  to  use  it,  would  materially  have 
endangered  the  British  Meditenrnean  fleet.  That 
fleet  had  been  greatly  neglected  during  Lord  Chat- 
ham's administration  at  the  admiralty ;  and  it  did 
not,  for  some  time,  feel  the  beneficial  effect  of  his 
removal.  Lord  Hood  had  gone  home  to  represent 
the  real  state  of  affairs,  and  solicit  reinforcements 
adequate  to  the  exigencies  of  the  time,  and  the  im- 
portance of  the  scene  of  action.  But  that  fatal  error 
of  under-proportioning  the  force  to  the  service — that 
rniuous  economy,  which,  by  sparing  a  little,  ]'enders 
all  that  is  spent  useless,  infected  the  British  councils ; 
and  Lord  Hood,  not  being  able  to  obtain  such  rein- 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


forcements  as  he  knew  were  necessary,  resigned  the 
command.  "Surely,"  said  Nelson,  "the  people 
at  home  have  forgotten  us."  Another  Neapolitan 
seventy-four  joined  Admiral  Hotham ;  and  Nelson 
observed  with  sorrow,  that  this  was  matter  of  exult- 
ation to  an  English  fleet.  "When  the  store-ships  and 
victuallers  from  Gibraltar  arrived,  their  escape  from 
the  enemy  was  thought  wonderful ;  and  yet,  had 
they  not  escaped,  "the  game,"  said  Nelson,  "was 
up  here.  At  this  moment  our  operations  are  at  a 
stand  for  want  of  ships  to  support  the  Austrians  in 
getting  possession  of  the  sea  coast  of  the  King  of 
Sardinia ;  and  behold  our  admiral  does  not  feel  him- 
self equal  to  show  himself,  much  less  to  give  assist- 
ance in  their  operations."  It  was  reported  that  the 
French  were  again  out  with  eighteen  or  twenty  sail. 
The  combined  British  and  Neapolitan  were  but  six- 
teen ;  should  the  enemy  be  only  eighteen.  Nelson 
made  no  doubt  of  a  complete  victory ;  but  if  they 
were  twenty,  he  said,  it  was  not  to  be  expected :  and 
a  battle,  without  complete  victory,  would  have  been 
destruction,  because  another  mast  was  not  to  be  got 
on  that  side  Gibraltar.  At  length  Admiral  Man 
arrived  with  a  squadron  from  England.  "  What  they 
can  mean  by  sending  him  with  only  five  sail  of  the 
line,"  said  Nelson,  "is  truly  astonishing:  but  all 
men  are  alike,  and  we  in  this  country  do  not  find  any 
amendment  or  alteration  from  the  old  board  of  ad- 
miralty. They  should  know  that  half  the  ships  in 
the  fleet  require  to  go  to  England  ;  and  that  long  ago 
they  ought  to  have  reinforced  us." 

About  this  time  Nelson  was  made  colonel  of  ma- 
rines ;  a  mark  of  approbation  which  he  had  long 
wished  for  rather  than  expected.  It  came  in  good 
season,  for  his  spirits  were  oppressed  by  the  thought 
that  his  services  had  not  been  acknowledged  as  they 
deserved  ;  and  it  abated  the  resentful  feeling  which 


/   V. 


I 

rJ    Mil 

,3...   i! 


86 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


would  else  have  been  excited  by  the  answer  to  an 
application  to  the  war-office.  During  his  four 
months'  land  service  in  Corsica,  he  had  lost  all  his 
ship-furniture,  owing  to  the  movements  of  a  camp. 
Upon  this  he  wrote  to  the  secretary-at-war,  briefly 
stating  what  his  services  on  shore  had  been,  and 
saying,  he  trusted  it  was  not  asking  an  improper 
thing  to  request  that  the  same  allowance  might  be 
made  to  him  which  would  be  made  to  a  land  officer 
of  his  rank,  which,  situated  as  he  was,  would  be  that 
of  a  brigadier-general :  if  this  could  not  be  accorded, 
he  hoped  that  his  additional  expenses  would  be  paid 
him.  The  answer  which  he  received  was,  "  that  no 
pay  had  ever  been  issued  under  the  direction  of  the 
war-office  to  officers  of  the  navy  soj  ving  with  the 
army  on  shore." 

He  now  entered  upon  a  new  line  of  service.  The 
Austrian  and  Sardinian  armies,  under  General  de 
Vins,  required  a  British  squadron  to  co-operate  with 
them  in  driving  the  French  from  the  Riviera  di 
Genoa ;  and  as  Nelson  had  been  so  much  in  the 
habit  of  soldiering,  it  was  immediately  fixed  that 
the  brigadier  should  go.  He  sailed  from  St.  Fio- 
renzo  on  this  destination ;  but  fell  in,  off  Cape  del 
Mele,  with  the  enemy's  fleet,  who  immediately  gave 
his  squadron  chase.  The  chase  lasted  four-and- 
twenty  hours ;  and  owing  to  the  fickleness  of  the 
wind,  the  British  ships  were  somewhat  hard  pressed ; 
but  the  want  of  skill  on  the  part  of  the  French  gave 
them  many  advantages.  Nelson  bent  his  way  back 
to  St.  Fiorenzo,  where  the  fleet,  which  was  in  the 
midst  of  watering  and  refitting,  had,  for  seven  hours, 
the  mortification  of  seeing  him  almost  in  possession 
of  the  enemy,  before  the  wind  would  allow  them  to 
put  out  to  his  assistance.  The  French,  however,  at 
evening,  went  off,  not  choosing  to  approach  nearer 
the  shore.     During  the  night,  Admiral  Hothum,  by 


I  I  3:  . 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m 


great  exertions,  got  under  weigh  ;  and,  having  sought 
the  enemy  for  days,  came  in  sight  of  them  on  the 
fifth.  Baffling  winds  and  vexatious  calms,  so  com- 
mon in  the  Mediterranean,  rendered  it  impossible  to 
close  with  them ;  only  a  partial  action  could  be 
brought  on ;  and  then  the  firing  made  a  perfect 
calm.  The  French  being  to  windward,  drew  in 
shore ;  and  the  English  fleet  was  becalmed  six  or 
seven  miles  to  the  westward.  L'Alcide,  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  struck ;  but  before  she  could  be  taken 
possession  of,  a  box  of  combustibles  in  her  fore-top 
took  fire,  and  the  unhappy  crew  experienced  how 
far  more  perilous  their  inventions  were  to  them- 
selves than  to  their  enemies.  So  rapid  was  the  con- 
flagration, that  the  French  in  their  official  account 
say,  the  hull,  the  masts,  and  sails,  all  seemed  to 
take  fire  at  the  same  moment ;  and  though  the  Eng- 
lish boats  were  put  out  to  the  assistance  of  the  poor 
wretches  on  board,  not  more  than  200  could  be 
saved.  The  Agamemnon,  and  Captain  Rowley,  in 
the  Cumberland,  were  just  getting  into  close  action 
a  second  time,  when  the  admiral  called  them  oflf,  the 
wind  now  being  directly  into  the  gulf  of  Frejus, 
where  the  enemy  anchored  after  the  evening  closed. 
Nelson  now  proceeded  to  his  station  with  eight 
sail  of  frigates  under  his  command.  Arriving  at 
Genoa,  he  had  a  conference  with  Mr.  Drake,  the 
British  envoy  to  that  state ;  the  result  of  which  was, 
that  the  object  of  the  British  must  be,  to  put  an  en- 
tire stop  to  all  trade  between  Genoa,  France,  and 
the  places  occupied  by  the  French  troops ;  for,  un- 
less this  trade  was  stopped,  it  would  be  scarcely 
possible  for  the  allied  armies  to  hold  their  situation, 
and  impossible  for  them  to  make  any  progress  in 
driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  Riviera  di  Genoa.  Mr. 
Drake  was  of  opinion,  that  pven  Nice  might  fall  for 
want  of  supplies,  if  the  trade  with  Genoa  were  cut 


THE  LIFE   OF  NELSON. 


I'll   ' 


/ 


off.  This  sort  of  blockade  Nelson  could  not  carry 
on  without  great  risk  to  himself.  A  captain  in  the 
navy,  as  he  represented  to  the  envoy,  is  liable  to 
prosecution  for  detention  and  damages.  This  dan- 
ger was  increased  by  an  order  which  had  then  lately 
been  issued  ;  by  whioli,  when  a  neutral  ship  was  de- 
tained, a  complete  specification  of  her  cargo  was 
directed  to  be  sent  to  the  secretiU'y  of  the  admiralty, 
and  no  legal  process  instituted  against  her  till  the 
pleasure  of  that  board  should  be  communicated. 
This  was  requiring  an  impossibility.  The  cargoes 
of  ships  detained  upon  this  station,  consisting  chiefly 
of  corn,  would  be  spoiled  long  before  the  orders  of 
the  admiralty  could  be  known ;  and  then,  if  they 
should  happen  to  release  the  vessel,  the  owners 
would  look  to  the  captain  for  damages.  Even  the 
only  precaution  which  could  be  taken  against  this 
danger,  involved  another  danger  not  less  to  be  ap- 
prehended ;  for,  if  the  captain  should  direct  the 
cargo  to  be  taken  out,  the  freight  paid  for,  and  the 
vessel  released,  the  agent  employed  might  prove 
fraudulent  and  become  bankrupt ;  and  in  that  case 
the  captain  become  responsible.  Such  things  had 
happened ;  Nelson  therefore  required,  as  the  only 
means  for  carrying  on  that  service,  which  was  judged 
essential  to  the  common  cause,  without  exposing  the 
officers  to  ruin,  that  the  British  envoy  should  ap- 
point agents  to  pay  the  freight,  release  the  vessels, 
sell  the  cargo,  and  hold  the  a,mount  until  process  was 
had  upon  it :  government  thus  securing  its  officers. 
*'  I  am  acting,"  said  Nelson,  "  not  only  without  the 
orders  of  my  commander-in-chief,  but,  in  some 
measure,  contrary  to  him.  However,  I  have  not 
only  the  support  of  his  majesty's  ministers,  both  at 
Turin  and  Genoa,  but  a  consciousness  that  I  am 
doing  what  is  rij^ht  and  proper  for  the  seivice 
of  our  king  and  country.     Political  courage,  in  an 


THE  LIFE   OF   NELSON  M 

officer  abroad,  is  as  highly  nacessary  as  military 
courage." 

This  quality,  which  is  as  much  rarer  than  military 
cci;  .ige,  as  it  is  more  valuable,  and  without  which 
the  soldier's  bravery  is  often  of  little  avail,  Nelson 
possessed  in  an  eminent  degree.  His  representa- 
tions were  attended  to  as  they  deserved.  Admiral 
Hotham  commended  him  for  what  he  had  done  ;  and 
the  attention  of  government  was  awakened  to  the 
injury  which  the  cause  of  the  allies  continually  suf- 
fered from  the  frauds  of  neutral  vessels.  "  What 
changes  in  my  life  of  activity  !  "  said  this  indefat- 
igable man.  "  Here  I  am ;  having  commenced  a 
co-operation  with  an  old  Austrian  general,  almost 
fancying  myself  charging  at  the  head  of  a  troop  of 
horse  !  I  do  not  write  less  than  from  ten  to  twenty 
letters  every  day ;  which,  with  the  Austrian  general 
and  aides-de-camp,  and  my  own  little  squadron, 
fully  employ  my  time.  This  I  like  ; — active  service, 
or  none."  It  was  Nelson's  mind  which  suppoiLed 
his  feeble  body  through  these  exertions.  He  was  at 
this  time  almost  blind,  and  wrote  with  very  great 
pain.  "Poor  Agamemnon,"  he  sometimes  said, 
"  was  as  nearly  worn  out  as  her  cr.ptain ;  and  both 
must  soon  be  laid  i  p  to  repair." 

When  Nelson  first  saw  General  de  Vins,  he  thought 
him  an  able  man.,  who  was  willing  to  act  with  vigor. 
The  general  charged  his  inactivity  upon  the  Pied- 
raontese  and  Neapolitans,  whom,  he  said,  nothing 
could  induce  to  act ;  and  he  concerted  a  plan  with 
Nelson,  for  embarking  a  part  of  the  Austrian  army, 
and  landing  it  in  the  rear  of  the  French.  But  the 
English  commodore  soon  began  to  suspect  that  the 
A.ustrian  general  was  little  disposed  to  any  active 
Operations.  In  the  hope  of  spurring  him  on,  he 
wrote  to  him,  telling  him  that  he  had  surveyed  the 
coast  to  the  westwara  as  far  as  Nice,  and  would  un- 


\ 


./■ 


i 

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II 

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II 

i 

1  f{ 

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THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


dertake  to  embark  four  or  five  thousand  men,  with 
their  v.xLb,  and  a  few  days'  provisions,  on  board  the 
squadron,  and  land  them  within  t>vo  ^miles  of  St. 
Remo,  with  their  field-pieces,  liespecting  farther 
provisions  for  the  Austrian  army,  he  would  provide 
convoys,  that  they  should  arrive  in  safety ;  and  if  a 
re-embarkation  should  be  found  necessary,  he  would 
cover  it  with  the  squadron.  The  possession  of  St. 
Remo,  as  head-quarters  for  magazines  of  every 
kind,  would  enable  the  Austrian  general  to  turn  his 
anny  to  the  eastward  or  westward.  The  enemy  at 
Oneglia  would  be  cut  off  from  provisions,  and  men 
could  be  landed  to  attack  that  place  whenever  it  was 
judged  necessary.  St.  Remo  was  the  only  place  be- 
tween Vado  and  Ville  Franche  where  the  squadron 
could  lie  in  safety,  and  anchor  in  almost  all  winds. 
The  bay  was  not  as  good  as  Vado  for  large  ships ; 
but  it  had  a  mole,  which  Vado  had  not,  where  all 
small  vessels  could  lie,  and  load  and  unload  their 
cargoes.  This  bay  being  in  possession  of  the  allies, 
IS  ice  couH  be  cc  napletely  blockaded  by  sea.  General 
«lr  V  ns  affecting,  in  his  reply,  to  consider  that  Nel- 
KOfih  proposal  had  no  other  end  than  that  of  obtaining 
tb#^  bay  of  St.  Remo  as  a  station  for  the  ships,  told 
him,  what  he  well  knew,  and  had  expressed  before, 
that  Vado  Bay  was  a  better  anchorage  ;  nevertheless, 
if  "  Monsieui'  le  Commandant  Nelson"  was  well 
assured  that  part  of  the  fleet  could  winter  there, 
there  was  no  risk  to  which  he  would  not  expose  him- 
self with  pleasure,  for  the  sake  of  procuring  a  safe 
station  for  the  vessels  of  his  Britannic  Majesty. 
Nelson  soon  assured  the  Austrian  commander  that 
this  was  not  the  object  of  his  memorial.  He  now 
began  to  suspect  that  both  the  Austrian  court  and 
their  general  had  other  ends  in  view  than  the  cause 
of  the  allies.  "  This  army,"  said  he,  is  slow  be- 
yond all  description  ;  and  I  begin  to  think  that  the 


f    . 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


91 


means  to  go  m 
to  lay  the  miscuii* 
which  has  always  I 


'^he  general  wants  a  loop- 
ime  appeared  to  me  that  he 


emperor  is  anxious  to  touch  another  four  millions  of 
English  money.  Ab  Tor  the  German  generals,  war 
is  their  trade,  and  peace  is  ruin  to  them ;  therefore 
we  cannot  expect  that  th-^  should  have  any  wish  to 
finish  the  war.  Tl"^  poLJcs  of  courts  are  so  mean, 
that  private  people  would  he  ashamed  to  act  in  the 
same  way  all  is  '  'ick  aid  finesse,  to  which  the  com 
mon  cause  is  sa 
hole  ;  it  has  fc   S' 

tb'W  his  present  position,  and 
f  the  enterprise  against  Nice, 
I  Id  out  as  the  great  object  of 
his  army,  to  the  non-cooperation  of  the  British  fleet, 
and  of  the  Sardinians." 

To  prevent  this  plea.  Nelson  again  addressed  de 
Vins,  requesting  only  to  know  the  time,  and  the 
number  of  troops  ready  to  embark  ;  then  he  would, 
he  said,  despatch  a  ship  to  Admiral  Hotham,  re- 
questing transports,  having  no  doubt  of  obtaining 
them,  and  trusting  that  the  plan  would  be  success- 
ful to  the  fullest  extent.  Nelson  thought  at  the 
time,  that  if  the  whole  fleet  were  offered  him  for 
transports,  he  would  find  some  other  excuse ;  and 
Mr.  Drake  who  was  now  appointed  to  reside  at  the 
Austrian  head-quarters,  entertained  the  same  idea 
of  the  general's  sincerity.  It  was  not,  however,  put 
so  clearly  to  the  proof  as  it  ought  to  have  been.  He 
replied,  that  as  soon  as  Nelson  could  declare  him- 
self ready  with  the  vessels  necessary  for  conveying 
10,000  men,  with  their  artillery  and  baggage,  he 
would  put  the  army  in  motion.  But  Nelson  was 
not  enabled  to  do  this  :  Admiral  Hotham,  who  was 
highly  meritorious  in  leaving  such  a  man  so  much 
at  his  own  discretion,  pursued  a  cautious  system,  ill- 
according  with  the  bold  and  comprehensive  views  of 
Nelson,  who  continually  regretted  Lord  Hood,  say- 
ing, that  the  nation  had  suffered  much  by  his  re- 


>^     ^    *S^        .vV 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


L^12.8 

150     "^ 


25 

1.8 


1 1.25      1.4   III  1.6 

11= —     —  11111== 

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VI 


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A 


7 


Photogr^hic 

Sciences 

Cbrporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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92 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


signation  of  the  Mediterranean  command.  The 
plan  which  had  been  concerted,  he  said,  would 
astonish  the  French,  and  perhaps  the  English. 

There  was  no  unity  in  the  views  of  the  allied 
powers,  no  cordiality  in  their  co-operation,  no  energy 
in  their  councils.  The  neutral  powers  assisted  France 
more  effectually  than  the  allies  assisted  each  other. 
Th6  Genoese  ports  were  at  this  time  filled  with 
French  privateers,  which  swarmed  out  every  night, 
and  covered  the  gulf ;  and  French .  vessels  were  al- 
lowed to  tow  out  of  the  port  of  Genoa  itself,  board 
vessels  which  were  coming  in,  and  then  return  into 
the  mole.  This  was  allowed  without  a  remonstrance  ; 
while,  though  Nelson  abstained  most  carefully  from 
offering  any  offence  to  the  Genoese  territory  or  flag, 
complaints  were  so  repeatedly  made  against  his 
squadron,  that,  he  says,  it  seemed  a  trial  who  should 
be  tired  first :  they  of  complaining,  or  he  of  answer- 
ing their  complaints.  But  the  question  of  neutrality 
was  soon  at  an  end.  An  Austrian  commissary  was 
travelling  from  Genoa  towards  Vado  ;  it  was  known 
that  he  was  to  sleep  at  Voltri,  and  that  he  had 
£10,000  with  him,  —  a  booty  which  the  French 
minister  in  that  city,  and  the  captain  of  a  French 
frigate  in  that  port,  considered  as  far  more  im- 
portant than  the  word  of  honor  of  the  one,  the 
duties  of  the  other,  and  the  laws  of  neutrality.  The 
boats  of  the  frigate  went  out  with  some  privateers, 
landed,  robbed  the  commissary,  and  brought  back 
the  money  to  Genoa.  ,  The  next  day  men  were 
publicly  enlisted  in  that  city  for  the  French  army : 
700  men  were  embarked,  with  7000  stand  of  arms, 
on  board  the  frigates  and  other  vessels,  who  were  to 
land  between  Voltri  and  Savona : — there  a  detach- 
ment from  the  French  army  was  to  join  them,  and 
the  Genoese  peasantry  were  to  be  invited  to  insur- 
rection,— a  measure  for  which  everything  had  beea 


■ft) 


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THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


gs 


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Isur- 

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prepared.  The  night  of  the  13th  was  fixed  for  the 
sailing  of  this  expedition:  the  Austi'ians  called 
loudly  for  Nelson  to  prevent  it ;  and  he,  on  the 
evening  of  the  13th  amved  at  Genoa.  His  pre- 
sence checked  the  plan :  the  frigate,  knowing  her 
deserts,  got  within  the  merchant  ships,  in  the  inner 
mole ;  and  the  Genoese  government  did  not  now 
even  demand  of  Nelson  respect  to  the  neutral  port, 
know'ing  that  they  had  allowed,  if  not  connived  at, 
a  flagrant  breach  of  neutrality,  and  expecting  the 
answer  which  he  was  prepared  to  return,  that  it 
was  useless  and  impossible  for  him  to  respect  it 
longer. 

But  though  this  movement  produced  the  imme- 
diate effect  which  was  designed,  it  led  to  ill  conse- 
quences which  Nelson  foresaw,  but,  for  want  of 
sufficient  force,  was  unable  to  prevent.  His  squad- 
ron was  too  small  for  the  service  which  it  had  to 
perform.  He  required  two  seventy-fours,  and  eight 
or  ten  frigates  and  sloops ;  but  when  he  demanded 
this  reinforcement.  Admiral  Hotham  had  left  the 
command ;  Sir  Hyde  Parker  succeeded  till  the  new 
commander  should  arrive ;  and  he  immediately  re- 
duced it  almost  to  nothing,  leaving  him  only  one 
frigate  and  a  brig.  This  was  a  fatal  eiTor.  While 
the  Austrian  and  Sardinian  troops,  whether  from 
the  imbecility  or  the  treachery  of  their  leaders,  re- 
mained inactive,  the  French  were  preparing  for  the 
invasion  of  Italy.  Not  many  days  before  Nelson 
was  thus  summoned  to  Genoa,  he  chased  a  large 
convoy  into  Alassio.  Twelve  vessels  he  had  form- 
erly destroyed  in  that  port,  though  2000  French 
troops  occupied  the  town :  this  former  attack  had 
made  them  take  new  measures  of  defence  ;  and  there 
were  now  above  100  sail  of  victuallers,  gun-boats, 
and  ships  of  war.  Nelson  represented  to  the  admi- 
ral how  important  it  was  to  destroy  these  vessels ; 


M 


M 


THB  UFB  OF  NELSON. 


I* 


I 


and  offered,  with  his  squadron  of  frigates,  and  the 
CuUoden  and  Courageux,  to  lead  himself  in  the 
Agamemnon,  and  take  or  destroy  the  whole.  The 
attempt  was  not  permitted :  but  it  was  Nelson's  be- 
lief, that,  if  it  had  been  made,  it  would  have  pre- 
vented the  attack  upon  the  Austrian  army,  which 
took  place  almost  immediately  afterwards. 

General  de  Vins  demanded  satisfaction  of  the 
Genoese  government  for  the  seizure  of  his  commis- 
sary ;  and  then,  without  waiting  for  their  reply, 
took  possession  of  some  empty  magazines  of  the 
French,  and  pushed  his  sentinels  to  the  very  gates 
of  Genoa.  Had  he  done  so  at  first,  he  would  have 
found  the  magazines  full ;  but,  timed  as  the  measure 
was,  and  useless  as  it  was  to  the  cause  of  the  allies, 
it  was  in  character  with  the  whole  of  the  Austrian 
general's  conduct :  and  it  is  no  small  proof  of  the 
dexterity  with  which  he  served  the  enemy,  that  in 
ouch  circumstances  he  could  so  act  with  Genoa,  as 
to  contrive  to  put  himself  in  the  wrong.  Nelson 
was  at  this  time,  according  to  his  own  expression, 
placed  in  a  cleft  stick.  Mr.  Drake,  the  Austrian 
minister,  and  the  Austrian  general,  all  joined  in  re- 
quiring him  not  to  leave  Genoa :  if  he  left  that  port 
unguarded,  they  said,  not  only  the  oerial  troops 
at  St.  Pier  d' Arena  and  Voltri  wouk.  j  lost,  but  the 
French  plan  for  taking  post  between  Voltri  and 
Savona  would  certainly  succeed :  if  the  Austrians 
should  be  worsted  in  the  advanced  posts,  the  retreat 
by  the  Bocchetta  would  be  cut  off ;  and,  if  this  hap- 
pened, the  loss  of  the  army  would  be  imputed  to 
him,  for  having  left  Genoa.  On  the  other  hand,  he 
knew,  that  if  he  were  not  at  Pietra,  the  enemy's 
gun-boats  would  harass  the  left  flank  of  the  Aus- 
trians, who,  if  they  were  defeated,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, from  the  spirit  of  all  their  operations,  would 
very  probably  lay  their  defeat  to  the  want  of  assist- 


V    [ 


{  -'    { 


\\       :     .\ 


N. 


I 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


06 


as 


L,  he  * 

lUS- 

ex- 
[oald 


ance  from  the  Agamemnon.  Had  the  force  for  which 
Nelson  applied  been  given  him,  he  could  have  at- 
tended to  both  objects :  and  had  he  been  permitted 
to  attack  the  convoy  in  Alassio,  he  could  have  dis- 
concerted the  plans  of  the  French,  in  spite  of  the 
Austrian  general.  He  had  foreseen  the  danger, 
and  pointed  out  how  it  might  be  prevented ;  but  the 
means  of  preventing  it  were  withheld.  The  attack 
was  made,  as  he  foresaw ;  and  the  gun-boats  brought 
their  fire  to  bear  upon  the  Austrians.  It  so  hap- 
pened, however,  that  the  left  flank,  which  was  ex- 
posed to  them,  was  the  only  part  of  the  army  that 
behaved  well ;  this  division  stood  its  ground  till  the 
centre  and  the  right  wing  fled,  and  then  retreated  in 
a  soldier-like  manner.  General  de  Vins  gave  up  the 
command  in  the  middle  of  the  battle,  pleading  ill 
health.  **  From  that  moment,"  says  Nelson,  "  not 
a  soldier  stayed  at  his  post :  it  was  the  devil  take  the 
hindmost.  Many  thousands  ran  away  who  had  never 
seen  the  enemy ;  some  of  them  thirty  miles  from 
the  advanced  posts.  Had  I  not — though,  I  own, 
against  my  inclination — been  kept  at  Genoa,  from 
eight  to  ten  thousand  men  would  have  been  taken 
prisoners,  and,  amongst  the  number.  General  de 
Vins  himself :  but,  by  this  means,  the  pass  of  the 
Bocchetta  was  kept  open.  The  purser  of  the  ship, 
who  was  at  Yado,  ran  with  the  Austrians  eighteen 
miles  without  stopping:  the  men  without  arms, 
officers  without  soldiers,  women  without  assistance. 
The  oldest  oflBcer,  say  they,  never  heard  of  so  com- 
plete a  defeat,  and  certainly  without  any  reason. 
Thus  has  ended  my  campaign.  We  have  established 
the  French  republic ;  which,  but  for  us,  I  verily  be- 
lieve, would  never  have  been  settled  by  such  a  vola- 
tile, changeable  people.  I  hate  a  Frenchman :  they 
are  equally  objects  of  my  detestation,  whether  royal- 
ists or  republicans :  in  some  points,  I  believe,  the 


I 


11 


w 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


r 


latter  are  the  best."  Nelson  had  a  lieutenant  and 
two  midshipmen  taken  at  Vado :  they  told  him,  in 
their  letter,  that  few  of  the  French  soldiers  were 
more  than  three  or  four  and  twenty  years  old,  a 
great  many  not  more  than  fourteen,  and  all  were 
nearly  naked  :  they  were  sure,  they  said,  his  barge's 
crew  could  have  beat  a  hundred  of  them  ;  and  that, 
had  he  himself  seen  them,  he  would  not  have  thought, 
if  the  world  had  been  covered  with  such  people,  that 
they  could  have  beaten  the  Austrian  army. 

The  defeat  of  General  de  Vins  gave  the  enemy 
possession  of  the  Genoese  coast  from  Savoni  to 
Voltri ;  and  it  deprived  the  Austrians  of  their  direct 
communication  with  the  English  fleet.  The  Aga- 
memnon, therefore,  could  no  longer  be  useful  on 
this  station,  and  Nelson  sailed  for  Leghorn  to  refit. 
When  his  ship  went  into  dock,  there  was  not  a 
mast,  yard,  sail,  or  anj'  part  of  the  rigging,  but 
what  stood  in  need  of  repair,  having  been  cut  to 
pieces  with  shot.  The  hull  was  so  damaged,  that 
it  had  for  some  time  been  secured  by  cables,  which 
were  served  or  thrapped  round  it. 


tj    . 


!  i 


VI 


Action  ietvaeen  the  Captain  and  the  Trinidad  Santistima, 

CHAPTER   IV. 


CIR  JOHN  JERVIS  had  now  arrived  to  take  the 
^  command  of  the  MediteiTanean  fleet.  The 
Agamemnon  having,  as  her  captain  said,  been  made 
as  fit  for  sea  as  a  rotten  ship  could  be,  Nelson  sailed 
from  Leghorn,  and  joined  the  admiral  in  Fiorenzo 
Bay.  "  I  found  him,"  said  he,  "  anxious  to  know 
many  things,  which  I  was  a  good  deal  surprised  to 
find  had  not  been  communicated  to  him  by  others  in 
the  fleet ;  and  it  would  appear  that  he  was  so  well 
satisfied  with  my  opinion  of  what  is  likely  to  happen, 
and  the  means  of  prevention  to  be  taken,  that  he 
had  no  reserve  with  me  respecting  his  information 


THE  LIFE  or  ITELSON. 


'  i*- 


'7 


,f 


:\  .--.-p. 


.1 


and  ideas  of  what  is  likely  to  be  done.^'  The  man- 
ner in  which  Nelson  was  received,  is  said  to  have  ex- 
cited some  enyy.  One  captain  observed  to  him: 
**  You  did  just  as  you  pleased  in  Lord  Hood's  time, 
the  same  in  Admiral  Hotham's,  and  now  again  with 
Sir  John  Jervis :  it  makes  no  difference  to  you  who 
is  commander-in-chief."  A  higher  compliment  could 
not  have  been  paid  to  any  commander-in-chief,  than 
to  say  of  him,  that  he  understood  the  merits  of  Nel- 
son, and  left  him,  as  far  as  possible,  to  act  upon  his 
own  judgment. 

Sir  John  JeiTis  offered  him  the  St.  Greorge, 
ninety,  or  the  Zealous,  seventy-fOur,  and  asked  if 
he  should  have  any  objection  to  serve  under  him 
with  his  flag.  He  replied  that  if  the  Agamemnon 
were  ordered  home,  and  his  flag  were  not  arrived, 
he  should,  on  many  accounts,  wish  to  return  to 
England :  still,  if  the  war  continued,  he  should  be 
very  proud  of  hoisting  his  flag  under  Sir  John's 
command.  '*  We  cannot  spai'e  you,"  said  Sir  John, 
*'*'  either  as  captain  or  admiral."  Accordingly,  he 
resumed  his  station  in  the  Gulf  of  Genoa.  The 
French  had  not  followed  up  their  successes  in  that 
quarter  with  their  usual  celerity.  Scherer,  who 
commanded  there,  owed  his  advancement  to  any 
other  cause  than  his  merit ;  he  was  a  favorite  of 
the  directory  ;  biit,  for  the  present,  through  the  in- 
fluence of  Barras,  he  was  removed  from  a  command 
for  which  his  incapacity  was  aftei'wards  cleaily 
proved,  and  Bonaparte  was  appointed  to  succeed 
him.  Bonaparte  had  given  indications  of  his  mili- 
tary talents  at  Toulon,  and  of  his  remorseless  nature 
at  Paris :  but  the  extent  either  of  his  ability  or  his 
wickedness,  was  at  this  time  known  to  none,  and 
perhaps  not  even  suspected  by  himself. 

Nelson  supposed,  from  the  information  whiph  he 
ha<T  obtained,  that  one  column  of  the  Fi'ench  army 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OF  KELSON. 


would  take  possession  of  Port  Especia ;  either  pen- 
etrating through  the  Genoese  territory,  or  proceed- 
ing coastways  in  light  vessels ;  our  ships  of  war  not  % 
being  able  to  approach  the  coast,  because  of  the 
shallowness  of  the  water.  To  prevent  this,  he  said, 
two  things  were  necessary :  the  possession  of  Vado 
Bay,  and  the  taking  of  Port  Especia ;  if  either  of 
these  points  were  secured,  Italy  would  be  safe  from 
any  attack  of  the  French  by  sea.  General  Beaulieu, 
who  had  now  superseded  de  Vins  in  the  command 
of  the  allied  Austrian  and  Sardinian  army,  sent  his 
nephew  and  aide-de-camp  to  communicate  with  Nel- 
son, and  inquire  whether  he  could  anchor  in  any 
other  place  than  Vado  Bay.  Nelson  replied,  that 
Vado  was  the  only  place  where  the  British  fleet 
could  lie  in  safety:  but  all  places  would  suit  his 
squadron ;  and  wherever  the  general  came  down  to 
the  sea-coast,  there  he  should  find  it.  The  Aus- 
trian repeatedly  asked,  if  there  was  not  a  risk  of 
losing  the  squadron ;  and  was  constantly  answered, 
that  if  these  ships  should  be  lost,  the  admiral  would 
find  others.  But  all  plans  of  co-operation  with  the 
Austrians  were  soon  frustrated  by  the  battle  of  Mon- 
tenotte.  Beaulieu  ordered  an  attack  to  be  made 
upon  the  post  of  Voltri ;  it  was  made  twelve  hours 
before  the  time  which  he  had  fixed,  and  before  he 
arrived  to  direct  it.  In  consequet  .  the  French 
were  enabled  to  effect  their  retreat,  and  fall  back  to 
Montenotte ;  thus  giving  the  troops  there  a  decisive 
superiority  in  number  over  the  division  which  at- 
tacked them.  This  drew  on  the  defeat  of  the  Aus- 
trians. Bonaparte,  with  a  celerity  which  had  never 
before  been  witnessed  in  modern  war,  pursued  his 
advantages ;  and,  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  dic- 
tated to  the  court  of  Turin  terms  of  peace,  or  rather 
of  submission ;  by  which  all  the  strongest  places  of 
Piedmont  were  put  into  his  hands. 


yT 


100 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


On  one  occaeion,  and  only  on  one,  Nelson  was 
able  to  impede  the  progress  of  this  new  conqueror. 
Six  vessels,  laden  with  cannon  and  ordnance-stores 
for  the  siege  of  Mantua,  sailed  from  Toulon  for  St. 
Pier  d' Arena.  Assisted  by  Captain  Cockburn,  in 
the  Meleager,  he  drove  them  under  a  battery,  pur- 
sued them,  silenced  the  batteries,  and  captured  the 
whole.  Military  books,  plans,  and  maps  of  Italy, 
with  the  different  points  marked  upon  them  where 
former  battles  had  been  fought,  sent  by  the  direc- 
tory for  Bonaparte's  use,  were  found  in  the  convoy. 
The  loss  of  this  artillery  was  one  of  the  chief  causes 
which  compelled  the  French  to  raise  the  siege  of 
Mantua:  but  there  was  too  much  treachery,  and 
too  much  imbecility,  both  in  the  councils  and  armies 
'  of  the  allied  powers,  for  Austria  to  improve  this 
momentary  success.  Bonaparte  perceived  that  the 
conquest  of  all  Italy  was  within  his  reach :  treaties, 
and  the  rights  of  neutral  or  friendly  powers^  were 
as  little  regarded  by  him  as  by  the  government  for 
which  he  acted.  In  open  contempt  of  both  he  en- 
tered Tuscany,  .and  took  possession  of  Leghorn. 
In  consequence  of  this  movement.  Nelson  block- 
aded that  port,  and  landed  a  British  force  in  the  Isle 
of  Elba,  to  secure  Porto  Ferrajo.  Soon  afterwards 
he  took  the  island  of  Capraja,  which  had  formerly 
belonged  to  Corsica,  being  less  than  forty  miles  dis- 
tant from  it :  a  distance,  however,  short  as  it  was, 
which  enabled  the  Genoese  to  retain  it,  after  their 
infamous  sale  of  Corsica  to  France.  Genoa  had 
now  taken  part  with  France :  its  government  had 
long  covertly  assisted  the  French,  and  now  willingly 
yielded  to  the  iirst  compulsory  menace  which  re- 
quired them  to  exclude  the  English  from  their  ports. 
Capraja  was  seized,  in  consequence :  but  this  act  of 
vigor  was  not  followed  up  as  it  ought  to  have  been. 
England  at  that  time  depended  too  much  upon  the 


V  -  »* 


Si' 
V 


L 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


IM 


feeble  governments  of  the  continent,  and  too  little 
upon  itself.  It  was  determined  by  the  British  cab- 
inet to  evacuate  Corsica,  as  soon  as  Spain  should 
form  an  oflPensive  alliance  with  France.  This  event, 
which,  from  the  moment  that  Spain  had  been  com- 
pelled to  make  peace,  was  clearly  foreseen,  had  now 
taken  place ;  and  orders  for  the  evacuation  of  the 
island  were  immediately  sent  out.  It  was  impolitic 
to  annex  this  island  to  the  British  dominions ;  but, 
having  done  so,  it  was  disgraceful  thus  to  abandon 
it.  The  disgrace  would  have  been  spared,  and 
every  advantage  which  could  have  been  derived 
from  the  possession  of  the  island  secured,  if  the 
people  had  at  first  been  left  to  form  a  government 
for  themselves,  and  protected  by  us  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  their  independence. 

The  viceroy.  Sir  Gilbert  Elliott,  deeply  felt  the 
impolicy  and  ignominy  of  this  evacuation.  The  fleet 
also  was  ordered  to  leave  the  Mediterranean.  This 
resolution  was  so  contrary  to  the  last  instructions 
which  had  been  received,  that  Nelson  exclaimed, 
"  Do  his  majesty's  ministers  know  their  own  minds? 
They  at  home,"  said  he,  "  do  not  know  what  this 
fleet  is  capable  of  performing — anything  and  every- 
thing. Much  as  I  shall  rejoice  to  see  England,  I 
lament  our  present  orders  in  sackcloth  and  ashes, 
so  dishonorable  to  the  dignity  of  England,  whose 
fleets  are  equal  to  meet  the  world  in  arms ;  and  of 
all  the  fleets  I  ever  saw,  I  never  beheld  one,  in 
point  of  officers  and  men,  equal  to  Sir  John  Jervis's, 
who  is  a  commander-in-chief  able  to  lead  them  to . 
glory."  Sir  Gilbert  Elliott  believed  that  the  great 
body  of  the  Corsicans  were  perfectly  satisfied,  as 
they  had  good  reason  to  be,  with  the  British  govern- 
ment, sensible  of  its  advantages,  and  attached  to  it. 
However  this  may  have  been,  when  they  found  that 
the  English  intended  to  evacuate  the    island,  they 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


,?-' 


natnrally  and  necessarily  sent  to  make  their  peace 
with  the  French.  The  partisans  of  France  found 
none  to  oppose  them.  A  committee  of  thirty  took 
npon  them  the  government  of  Bastia,  and  seques- 
trated all  the  British  property:  armed  Corsicans 
mounted  guard  at  every  place,  and  a  plan  was  laid 
for  seizing  the  viceroy.  Nelson,  who  was  appointed 
to  superintend  the  evacuation,  frustrated  these  pro- 
jects. At  a  time  when  every  one  else  despaired  of 
saving  stores,  cannon,  provisions,  or  property  of 
any  kind,  and  a  privateer  was  moored  across  the 
molehead  to  prevent  all  boats  from  passing,  he  sent 
word  to  the  committee,  that  if  the  slightest  opposi- 
tion were  made  to  the  embarkment  and  removal  of 
British  property,  he  would  batter  the  town  down. 
The  privateer  pointed  her  guns  at  the  officer  who 
carried  this  message,  and  muskets  were  levelled 
against  his  boats  from  the  mole-head.  Upon  this, 
Captain  Sutton,  of  the  Egmont,  pulling  out  his 
watch,  gave  them  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  deliberate 
upon  their  answer.  In  five  minutes  after  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time,  the  ships,  he  said,  would  open 
their  fire.  Upon  this  the  very  sentinels  scampered 
off,  and  every  vessel  came  out  of  the  mole.  A  ship- 
owner complained  to  the  commodore,  that  the  muni- 
cipality refused  to  let  him  take  his  goods  out  of  the 
custom-house.  Nelson  directed  him  to  say,  that 
unless  they  were  instantly  delivered,  he  would  open 
his  fire.  The  committee  turned  pale  ;  and,  without 
answering  a  word,  gave  him  the  keys.  Their  last 
attempt  was  to  levy  a  duty  upon  the  things  that  were 
re-embarked.  He  sent  them  word  that  he  would 
pay  them  a  disagreeable  visit,  if  there  were  any 
more  complaints.  The  committee  then  finding  that 
they  had  to  deal  with  a  man  who  knew  his  own  power, 
and  was  determined  to  make  the  British  name  re- 
spected, desisted  from  the  insolent  conduct  which 


J-  ' 


-  -/   i- 

■:>■  '.  I  - 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


101 


)aoe 
und 
;ook 
ues- 
sans 
laid 
nted 
pro- 
id  of 

y  ot 

I  the 

sent 
posi- 
al  of 
own. 

who 
celled 

this, 
t  his 
»erate 
expi- 

open 
pered 

ship- 
knuni- 

f  the 
that 

open  V 

thout 

r  last 
were 

would 
any 
that 

ower, 

ne  re- 

which 


they  had  assumed :  and  it  was  acknowledged  that 
Bastia  never  had  been  so  quiet  and  orderly  since  the 
English  were  in  possession  of  it.  This  was  on  the 
14th  of  October :  dur'.ng  the  five  following  days  the 
work  of  embarkation  was  carried  on,  the  private 
property  was  saved,  and  public  stores  to  the  amount 
of  £200,000.  The  French,  favored  by  the  Spanish 
fleet,  which  was  at  that  time  within  twelve  leagues 
of  Bastia,  pushed  over  troops  from  Leghorn,  who 
landed  near  Cape  Corse  on  the  18th,  and,  on  the 
20th,  at  one  in  the  morning,  entered  the  citadel,  an 
hour  only  after  the  British  had  spiked  the  guns,  and 
evacuated  it.  Nelson  embarked  at  daybreak,  being 
the  last  person  who  left  the  shore  ;  having  thus,  as 
he  said,  seen  the  first  and  the  last  of  Corsica.  Pro- 
voked at  the  conduct  of  the  municipality,  rind  the 
disposition  which  the  populace  had  shown  to  profit 
by  the  confusion,  he  turned  towards  the  shore,  as 
he  stepped  into  his  boat,  and  exclaimed,  **  Now, 
John  Corse,  follow  the  natural  bent  of  your  detest- 
able character — plunder  and  revenge."  This,  how- 
ever, was  not  Nelson's  deliberate  opinion  of  the 
people  of  Corsica;  he  knew  that  their  vices  were 
the  natural  consequences  of  internal  anarchy  and 
foreign  oppression,  such  as  the  same  causes  would 
produce  in  any  people :  and  when  he  saw,  that  of  all 
those  who  took  leave  of  the  viceroy,  there  was  not 
one  who  parted  from  him  without  tears,  he  acknowl- 
edged, that  they  manifestly  acted  not  from  dislike 
of  the  English,  but  from  fear  of  the  f'rench.  Eng- 
land then  might,  with  more  reason,  reproach  her 
own  rulers  for  pusillanimity,  than  the  Corsicans  for 
ingi'atitude. 

Having  thus  ably  effected  this  humiliating  ser- 
vice, Nelson  was  ordered  to  hoist  his  broad  pendant 
on  board  the  Miner ve  frigate,  Captain  George  Cock- 
burn,  and,  with  the  Blanche  under  his  command, 


/' 


i     > 


104 


THE  1.IFE  OP  NEl    JK". 


/ 


: 


proceed  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  and  superintend  the  evac- 
uation of  that  place  also.  On  his  way,  he  fell  in 
with  two  Spanish  frigates,  the  Sabina  and  the  Ceres. 
The  Minerve  engaged  the  former,  which  was  com- 
manded by  Don  Jacobo  Stuart,  a  descendant  of  the 
Duke  of  Berwick.  After  an  action  of  three  hours, 
during  which  the  Spaniards  lost  164  men,  the  Sabina 
struck.  The  Spanish  captain,  who  was  the  only  sur- 
viving officer,  had  hardly  been  conveyed  on  board 
the  Minerve,  when  another  enemy's  frigate  came 
up,  compelled  her  to  cast  off  the  prize,  and  brought 
her  a  second  time  to  action.  After  half  an  hour's 
trial  of  strength,  this  new  antagonist  wore  and 
hauled  off :  but  a  Spanish  squadron  of  two  ships  of 
the  line  and  two  frigates  came  in  sight.  The 
Blanche,  from  which  the  Ceres  had  got  oflf,  was  far 
to  windward,  and  the  Minerve  escaped  only  by  the 
anxiety  of  the  enemy  to  recover  their  own  ship. 
As  soon  as  Nelson  reached  Porto  Ferrajo,  he  sent 
his  prisoner  in  a  flag  of  truce  to  Carthagena,  having 
returned  him  his  sword ;  this  he  did  in  honor  of  the 
gallantry  which  Don  Jacobo  had  displayed,  and  not 
without  some  feeling  of  respect  for  his  ancestry. 
"  I  felt  it,"  said  he,  "  consonant  to  the  dignity  of 
my  country,  and  I  always  act  as  I  feel  right,  with- 
out regard  to  custom:  he  was  reputed  the  best 
officer  in  Spain,  and  his  men  were  worthy  of  such 
a  commander."  By  the  same  flag  of  truce  he  sent 
back  all  the  Spanish  prisoners  at  Porto  Ferrajo,  in 
exchange  for  whom  he  received  his  own  men  who 
had  been  taken  in  the  prize. 

General  de  Burgh,  who  commanded  at  the  Isle 
of  Elba,  did  not  think  himself  authorized  to  aban- 
don the  place,  till  he  had  received  specific  instruc- 
tions from  England  to  that  effect ;  professing  that 
he  was  unable  to  decide  between  the  contradictory 
orders  of  government,  or  to  guess  at  what  their 


l!l 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


106 


Isle 
iban- 
truc- 

that 
ctory 
tlieir 


present  intentions  might  be ;  but  he  said,  his  only 
motive  for  urging  delay  in  this  measure  arose  from 
a  desire  that  his  own  conduct  might  be  properly 
sanctioned,  not  from  any  opinion  that  Porto  Fer- 
ajo  ought  to  be  retained.  But  Naples  having  made 
peace,  Sir  John  Jervis  considered  his  business  with 
Italy  as  concluded,  and  the  protection  of  Portugal 
was  the  point  to  which  he  was  now  instructed  to 
attend.  Nelson,  therefore,  whose  orders  were  per- 
fectly clear  and  explicit,  withdrew  the  whole  naval 
establishment  from  that  station,  leaving  the  trans- 
ports victualled,  and  so  arranged,  that  all  the 
troops  and  stores  could  be  embarked  in  three  days. 
He  was  now  about  to  leave  the  Meditenanean. 
Mr.  Drake,  who  had  been  our  minister  at  Genoa, 
expressed  to  him,  on  this  occasion,  the  very  high 
opinion  which  the  allies  entertained  of  his  conspi- 
cuous merit ;  adding,  that  it  was  impossible  for  any 
one,  who  had  the  honor  of  co-operating  with  him, 
not  to  admire  the  activity,  talents,  and  zeal,  which 
he  had  so  eminently  and  constantly  displayed.  In 
fact,  during  this  long  course  of  services  in  the  Med- 
iterranean, the  whole  of  his  conduct  had  exhibited 
the  same  zeal,  the  same  indefatigable  energy,  the 
same  intuitive  judgment,  the  same  prompt  and  un- 
en'ing  decision,  which  characterised  his  after  career 
of  glory.  His  name  was  as  yet  hardly  known  to 
the  English  public,  but  it  was  feared  and  respected 
throughout  Italy.  A  letter  came  to  him,  directed, 
"  Horatio  Nelson,  Genoa : "  and  the  writer,  when 
he  was  asked  how  he  could  direct  it  so  vaguely, 
replied,  "  Sir,  there  is  but  one  Horatio  Nelson  in 
the  world."  At  Genoa,  in  particular,  where  he  had 
so  long  been  stationed,  and  where  the  nature  of  hia 
duty  ^first  led  him  to  continual  disputes  with  the 
government,  and  afterwards  compelled  him  to  stop 
the  trade  of  the  port,  he  was  equally  respected  by 


I 


"V\ 


106 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


the  do^e  and  by  the  people :  for,  while  he  main- 
tained the  rights  and  interests  of  Great  Britain  with 
great  firmness,  he  tempered  the  exercise  of  power 
with  courtesy  and  humanity,  wherever  duty  would 
permit.  "  Had  all  my  actions,"  said  he,  writing  at 
this  time  to  his  wife,  **  been  gazetted,  not  one  fort- 
night would  have  passed  during  the  whole  war,  with- 
out a  letter  from  me.  One  day  or  other  I  will  have 
a  long  *  Gazette '  to  myself.  I  feel  that  such  an 
opportunity  will  be  given  me.  I  cannot,  if  I  am  in 
the  field  of  glory,  be  kept  out  of  sight :  wherever 
there  is  anything  to  be  done,  there  Providence  is  sure 
to  direct  my  steps." 

These  hopes  and  anticipations  were  soon  to  be 
fulfilled.  Nelson's  mind  had  long  been  irritated 
and  depressed  by  the  fear  that  a  general  action 
would  take  place  before  he  could  join  the  fleet.  At 
length  he  sailed  from  Porto  Ferrajo  with  a  convoy 
for  Gibraltar ;  and  having  reached  that  place,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  westward  in  search  of  the  admiral. 
Oflf  the  mouth  of  the  Straits  he  fell  in  with  the 
Spanish  fleet ;  and,  on  the  13th  of  February,  reach- 
ing the  station  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  communicated 
this  intelligence  to  Sir  John  Jervis.  He  was  now 
directed  to  shift  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the 
Captain,  seventy-four.  Captain  R.  W.  Miller ;  and, 
before  sunset,  the  signal  was  made  to  prepare  for 
action,  and  to  keep,  during  the  night,  in  close 
order.  At  day-break  the  enemy  were  in  sight. 
The  British  force  consisted  of  two  ships  of  one  hun- 
dred guns,  two  of  ninety-eight,  two  of  ninety,  eight 
of  seventy-four,  and  one  sixty-four :  fifteen  of  the 
line  in  all ;  with  four  frigates,  a  sloop,  and  a  cutter. 
The  Spaniards  had  one  four-decker,  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  guns,  six  three-deckers  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twelve,  two  eighty-fours,  eighteen  seventy- 
fours  :  in  all,  twenty-seven  ships  of  the  line,  with 


I 


I 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


now 
the 
and, 
for 
close 
»ght. 
hun- 
eight 
the 
itter. 
adred 
hun- 
enty- 
with 


t«>  irigates  and  a  brig.  Their  Admiral,  Don  Jo- 
seph de  Cordova,  had  learnt  from  an  American,  on 
the  5th,  that  the  English  had  only  nine  ships,  which 
was  indeed  the  case  when  his  informer  had  seen 
them ;  for  a  reinforcement  of  five  ships  from  Eng- 
land, under  Admiral  Parker,  had  not  then  joined, 
and  the  CuUoden  had  parted  company.  Upon  this 
information,  t)ie  Spanish  commander,  instead  of 
going  into  Cadiz,  as  was  his  intention  when  he  sailed 
from  Cai'thagena,  determined  to  seek  an  enemy 
so  inferior  in  force;  and  relying,  with  fatal  con- 
fidence, upon  the  American  account,  he  suffered  his 
ships  to  remain  too  far  dispersed,  and  in  some  dis- 
order. When  the  morning  of  the  14th  broke  and 
discovered  the  English  fleet,  a  fog  for  some  time 
concealed  their  number.  The  look-out  ship  of  the 
Spaniards  fancying  that  her  signal  was  disregarded, 
because  so  little  notice  seemed  to  be  taken  of  it, 
made  another  signal  that  the  English  force  consisted, 
of  forty  sail  of  the  line.  The  captain  afterwards  said, 
he  did  this  to  rouse  the  admiral ;  it  had  the  effect 
of  perplexing  him,  and  alarming  the  whole  fleet. 
The  absurdity  of  such  an  act  shows  what  was  the 
state  of  the  Spanish  navy  under  that  miserable  gov- 
ernment, by  which  Spain  was  so  long  oppressed 
and  degraded,  and  finally  betrayed.  In  reality,  the 
general  incapacity  of  the  naval  oflBcers  was  so  well 
known,  that  in  a  pasquinade,  which  about  this  time 
appeared  at  Madrid,  wherein  the  different  orders  of 
the  state  were  advertised  for  sale,  the  greater  part 
of  the  sea-ofl3cers,  with  all  their  equipments,  were 
offered  as  a  gift ;  and  it  was  added  that  any  person 
who  would  please  to  take  them,  should  receive  a 
handsome  gratuity. 

Before  the  enemy  could  form  a  regular  order  of 
battle.  Sir  John  Jervis,  by  carrying  a  press  of  sail, 
came   up  with   them,  passed   through  their  fleet, 


108 


'THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


J" 


f 


then  tacked,  and  thus  cut  off  nine  of  their  ships 
from  the  main  body.  These  ships  attempted  to 
form  on  the  larboard  tack,  either  with  a  design  of 
passing  through  the  British  line,  or  to  leeward  of  it, 
and  thus  rejoining  their  friends.  Only  one  of  them 
succeeded  in  this  attempt,  and  that  only  because 
she  was  so  covered  with  smoke  that  her  intention 
was  not  discovered  till  she  had  reached  the  rear : 
the  others  were  so  warmly  received,  that  they  put 
about,  took  to  flight,  and  did  not  appear  again  in 
the  action  till  its  close.  The  admiral  was  now  able 
to  direct  his  attention  to  the  enemy's  main  body, 
which  was  still  superior  in  number  to  his  whole 
fleet,  and  more  so  in  weight  of  metal.  He  made 
signal  to  tack  in  succession.  Nelson,  whose  station 
was  in  the  rear  of  the  British  line,  perceived  that 
the  Spaniards  were  bearing  up  before  the  wind, 
with  an  intention  of  forming  their  line,  going  large, 
and  joining  their  separated  ships ;  or  else,  of  get- 
ting off  without  an  engagement.  To  prevent  either 
of  these  schemes,  he  disobeyed  the  signal  without 
a  moment's  hesitation,  and  ordered  his  ship  to  be 
wore.  This  at  once  brought  him  into  action  with 
the  Santissima  Trinidad,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six,  the  San  Joseph,  one  hundred  and  twelve,  the 
Salvador  del  Mundo,  one  hundred  and  twelve,  the 
San  Nicolas,  eighty,  the  San  Isidro,  seventy-four, 
another  seventy-four,  and  another  first-rate.  Trow- 
bridge, in  the  CuUoden,  immediately  joined,  and 
most  nobly  supported  him  ;  and  for  nearly  an  hour 
did  the  CuUoden  and  Captain  maintain  what  Nel- 
son called  "this  apparently,  but  not  really,  un- 
equal contest ;  " — such  was  the  advantage  of  skill 
and  discipline,  and  the  confidence  which  brave  men 
derive  from  them.  The  Blenheim  then  passing  be- 
tween them  and  the  enemy,  gave  them  a  respite, 
and  poured  in  her  fire  upon  the  Spaniards.     The 


'-f 


THE  UFE  OF  NELSON. 


Vf^- 


100 


Salvador  del  Mundo  and  San  Isidro  dropped  astern, 
and  were  fired  into,  in  a  masterly  style,  by  the 
Excellent,  Captain  CoUingwood.  The  San  Isidro 
struck ;  and  Nelson  thought  that  the  Salvador 
struck  also.  **  But  CoUingwood,"  says  he,  "  dis- 
daining the  parade  of  taking  possession  of  beaten 
enemies,  most  gallantly  pushed  up,  with  every  sail 
set,  to  save  his  old  friend  and  messmate,  who  was, 
to  every  appearance,  in  a  critical  situation ; "  for 
the  Captain  was  at  this  time  actually  fired  upon 
by  three  first-rates,  by  the  San  Nicolas,  and  by  a 
seventy-four,  within  about  pistol-shot  of  that  vessel. 
The  Blenheim  was  ahead,  the  CuUoden  crippled  and 
astern.  CoUingwood  ranged  up,  and  hauling  up  his 
mainsail  just  astern,  passed  within  ten  feet  of  the 
San  Nicolas,  giving  her  a  most  tremendous  fire,  then 
passed  on  for  the  Santissima  Trinidad.  The  San 
Nicolas  lufling  up,  the  San  Joseph  fell  on  board  her, 
and  Nelson  resumed  his  station  abreast  of  them, 
and  close  alongside.  The  Captain  was  now  incapable 
of  farther  service,  either  in  the  line  or  in  chase :  she 
had  lost  her  foretop-mast ;  not  a  sail,  shroud,  or 
rope  was  left,  and  her  wheel  was  shot  away.  Nel- 
son, therefore,  directed  Captain  Miller  to  put  the 
helm  a-starboard,  aud,  calling  for  the  boarders, 
ordered  them  to  board. 

Captain  BeiTy,  who  had  lately  been  Nelson's  first 
lieutenant,  was  the  first  man  who  leaped  into  the 
enemy;*s  mizzen-chains.  Miller,  when  in  the  very 
act  of  going,  was  ordered  by  Nelson  to  remain. 
Berry  was  supported  from  the  sprit-sail-yard,  which 
locked  in  the  San  Nicolas's  main  rigging.  A  sol- 
dier of  the  69th  broke  the  upper  quarter-gallery 
window,  and  jumped  in,  followed  by  the  commodore 
himself,  and  by  others  as  fast  as  possible.  The 
cabin  doors  were  fastened,  and  the  Spanish  officers 
fired  their  pistols  at  them  through  the  window ;  the 


'_  Vi»it'  t^V*''') 


110 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


•Iv 


4 


I 


iJP! 


ir  \ 


doors  were  soon  forced,  and  the  Spanish  brigadier 
fell  while  retreating  to  the  qnarter-deck.  Nelson 
pushed  on,  and  found  BeiTy  in  possession  of  the 
poop,  and  the  Spanish  ensign  hauling  down.  He 
passed  on  to  the  forecastle,  where  he  met  two  or 
three  Spanish  officers,  and  received  their  swords. 
The  English  were  now  in  full  possession  of  every 
part  of  the  ship;  and  a  fire  of  pistols  and  muS' 
quetry  opened  upon  them  from  the  admiral's  stern 
gallery  of  the  San  Joseph.  Nelson  having  placed 
sentinels  at  the  different  ladders,  and  ordered  Cap- 
tain Miller  to  send  more  men  into  the  prize,  gave 
orders  for  boarding  that  ship  from  the  San  Nicolas. 
It  was  done  in  an  instant,  he  himself  leading  the 
way,  and  exclaiming — "Westminster  Abbey,  or 
victory ! "  Berry  assisted  him  into  the  main-chains ; 
and  at  that  very  moment  a  Spanish  officer  looked 
over  the  quarter-deck  rail,  and  said  they  suiTcndered. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  was  on  the  quarter-deck, 
where  the  Spanish  captain  presented  to  him  his 
sword,  and  told  him  the  admiral  was  below,  dying 
of  his  wounds.  There,  on  the  quarter-deck  of  an 
enemy's  first-rate,  he  received  the  swords  of  the 
officers ;  giving  them,  as  they  were  delivered,  one 
by  one,  to  William  Fearney,  one  of  his  old  *'  Aga- 
memnons,"  who,  with  the  utmost  coolness,  put 
them  under  his  arm.  One  of  his  sailors  came  up, 
and,  with  an  Englishman's  feeling,  took  him  by  the 
hand,  saying,  he  anight  not  soon  have  such  another 
place  to  do  it  in,  and  he  was  heartily  glad  to  see 
him  there.  Twenty-four  of  the  Captain's  men  were 
killed,  and  fifty-six  wounded ;  a  fourth  part  of  the 
loss  sustained  by  the  whole  squadron  falling  upon 
this  ship.     Nelson  received  only  a  few  bruises. 

The  Spaniards  had  still  eighteen  or  nineteen  ships, 
which  had  suffered  little  or  no  injury ;  that  part  of 
the  fleet  which  had  been  separated  from  the  main 


1  idl 


i 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


Ill 


body  in  the  morning  was  now  coming  up,  and  Sir 
John  Jervis  made  signal  to  bring-to.  His  ships 
could  not  have  formed  without  abandoning  those 
which  they  had  captured,  and  running  to  leeward : 
the  Captain  was  lying  a  perfect  wreck  on  board  her 
two  prizes ;  and  many  of  the  other  vessels  were  so 
shattered  in  their  masts  and  rigging,  as  to  be  wholly 
unmanageable.  The  Spanish  admiral,  meantime, 
according  to  his  official  account,  being  altogether 
undecided  in  his  own  opinion  respecting  the  state 
of  the  fleet,  inquired  of  his  captains  whether  it  was 
proper  to  renew  the  action ;  nine  of  them  answered 
explicitly  that  it  was  not;  others  replied,  that  it 
was  expedient  to  delay  the  business.  The  Pelayo, 
and  the  Pi-incipe  Conquistador,  were  the  only  ships 
that  were  for  fighting. 

As  soon  as  the  action  was  discontinued.  Nelson 
went  on  board  the  Admh-al's  ship.  Sir  John  Jervis 
received  him  on  the  quarter-deck,  took  him  in  his 
arms^  and  said  he,  could  not  sufficiently  thank  him. 
For  this  victory  the  commander-in-chief  was  re- 
warded with  the  title  of  Earl  St.  Vincent.*   Nelson, 

*  In  the  official  letter  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  Nelson  was  not 
mentioned.  It  is  said,  that  the  admiral  had  seen  an  instance 
of  the  ill  consequence  of  such  selections,  after  Lord  Howe's 
victory;  and,  therefore,  would  not  name  any  individual, 
thinking  it  proper  to  speak  to  the  public  only  in  terms  of 
general  approbation.  His  private  letter  to  the  first'lord  of 
the  admiralty,  was,  with  his  consent,  published,  for  the  first 
time,  in  a  Life  of  Nelson,  by  Mr.  Harrison.  Here  it  is  said, 
that  ''Commodore  Nelson,  who  was  in  the  rear  on  the  star- 
board tack,  took  the  lead  on  the  larboard,  and  contributed 
very  much  to  the  fortune  of  the  day."  It  is  also  said,  that 
he  boarded  the  two  Spanish  ships  successively ;  but  the  fact, 
that  Nelson  wore  without  orders,  and  thus  planned  as  well 
as  accomplished  the  victory,  is  not  explicitly  stated.  Per- 
haps it  was  thought  proper  to  pass  over  this  part  of  his  con- 
duct in  silence,  as  a  splendid  fault :  but  such  an  example  is 
not  dangerous.  The  author  of  the  work  in  which  this  letter 
was  first  made  public,  protests  against  those  over-zealous 


f  ^^  *"?*»- -^•-^■v 


112 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


I 


i^ 


who,  before  the  action  was  known  in  England,  had 
been  advanced  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  had  the 
Order  of  the  Bath  given  him.  The  sword  of  the 
Spanish  rear-admiral  which  Sir  John  Jervis  insisted 
upon  his  keeping,  he  presented  to  the  mayor  and 
corporation  of  Norwich,  saying  that  he  knew  no 
place  where  it  could  give  him  or  his  family  more 
pleasure  to  have  it  kept,  than  in  the  capital  city  of 
the  county  where  he  was  born.  The  freedom  of  that 
city  was  voted  him  on  this  occasion.  But  of  all  the 
numerous  congratulations  which  he  received,  none 
could  have  affected  him  more  deeply  than  that  which 
came  from  his  venerable  father.  *'  I  thank  my  God," 
said  that  excellent  man,  **  with  all  the  power  of  a 
grateful  soul,  for  the  mercies  He  has  most  graciously 


"^'f 


.,^i*' 


friends,  "  who  would  make  the  action  rather  appear  as  Nel- 
son's battle,  than  that  of  the  illustrious  commander-in-chief, 
who  derives  from  it  so  deservedly  his  title.  No  man,"  he 
says,  "ever  less  needed,  or  less  desired,  to  strip  a  single  leaf 
from  the  honored  wreath  of  any  other  hero,  with  the  vain 
hope  of  augmenting  his  own,  than  the  immortal  Nelson;  no 
man  ever  more  medted  the  whole  of  that  which  a  generous 
nation  unanimously  presented  to  Sir  J.  Jervis,  than  the  Earl 
St.  Vincent."  Certainly  Earl  St.  Vincent  well  deserved 
the  reward  which  he  received ;  but  it  is  not  detracting  from 
his  merit  to  say,  that  Nelson  is  as  fully  entitled  to  as  much 
fame  from  this  action  as  the  commander-in-chief;  not.be- 
cause  the  brunt  of  the  action  fell  upon  him;  not  because 
he  was  engaged  with  all  the  four  ships  which  were  taken, 
and  took  two  of  them,  it  ihay  almost  be  said,  with  his  own 
hand ;  but  because  the  decisive  movement  which  enabled 
him  to  perform  all  this,  and  by  which  the  action  became  a 
victory,  was  executed  in  neglect  of  orders,  and  upon  his 
own  judgment,  and  at  his  peril.  Earl  St.  Vincent  deserved 
his  earldom;  but  it  is  not  to  the  honor  of  those  by  whom 
titles  were  distributed  in  those  days,  that  Nelson  never  ob- 
tained the  rank  of  earl  for  either  of  those  victories  which 
he  lived  to  enjoy,  though  the  one  was  the  most  complete 
and  glorious  in  the  annals  of  naval  history,  and  the  other 
the  most  important  in  its  consequences  of  any  which  was 
achieved  during  the  whole  war. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


118 


it 


>> 


he 


bestowed  on  me  in  preserving  you.  Not  only  my 
few  acquaintance  here,  but  the  people  in  general 
met  me  at  every  corner  with  such  handsome  words, 
that  I  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  public  eye. 
The  height  of  glory  to  which  your  professional 
judgment,  united  with  a  proper  degree  of  bravery, 
guarded  by  Providence,  has  raised  you,  few  sons, 
my  dear  child,  attain  to,  and  fewer  fathers  live  to 
see.  Tears  of  joy  have  involuntarily  trickled  down 
my  furrowed  cheeks.  Who  could  stand  the  force  of 
such  general  congratulation?  The  name  and  ser- 
vices of  Nelson  have  sounded  throughout  this  city 
of  Bath — from  the  common  ballad  singer  to  the 
public  theatre."  The  good  old  man  concluded  by 
telling  him,  that  the  field  of  glory,  in  which  he  had 
so  long  been  conspicuous,  was  still  open,  and  by 
giving  him  his  blessing. 

Sir  Horatio,  who  had  now  hoisted  his  flag  as  rear- 
admiral  of  the  blue,  was  sent  to  bring  away  the 
troops  from  Porto  Ferrajo :  having  performed  this, 
he  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Theseus.  That  ship  had 
taken  part  in  the  mutiny  in  England,  and  being  just 
arrived  from  home,  some  danger  was  apprehended 
from  the  temper  of  the  men.  This  was  one  reason 
why  Nelson  was  removed  to  her.  He  had  not  been 
on  board  many  weeks  before  a  paper,  signed  in  the 
name  of  all  the  ship's  company,  was  dropped  on  the 
quarter-deck,  containing  these  words :  "  Success 
attend  Admiral  Nelson !  God  bless  Captain  Miller ! 
We  thank  them  for  the  officers  they  have  placed  over 
us.  We  are  happy  and  comfortable ;  and  will  shed 
every  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins  to  support  them ; 
and  the  name  of  the  Theseus  shall  be  immortalized 
as  high  as  her  captain's."  Wherever  Nelson  com- 
manded, the  men  soon  became  attached  to  him ; — 
in  ten  days'  time  he  would  have  restored  the  most 
mutinous  ship  in  the  navy  to  order.  Whenever  an 
8. 


/<'. 


114 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


|il  : 


J 


oflScer  fails  to  win  the  affections  of  those  who  are 
under  his  command,  ho  may  bo  assured  that  the 
fault  is  chiefly  in  himself. 

While  Sir  Horatio  was  in  the  Theseus,  he  was 
employed  in  the  command  of  the  inner  squadron  at 
the  blockade  of  Cadiz.  During  this  service,  the 
most  perilous  action  occuiTed  in  which  he  was  ever 
engaged.  Making  a  night  attack  upon  the  Spanish 
gun-boats,  his  barge  was  attacked  by  an  armed 
launch,  under  their  commander,  Don  Miguel  Ti'e- 
goyen,  carrying  twenty-six  men.  Nelson  had  with 
him  only  his  ten  bargemen.  Captain  Fi*eemantle, 
and  his  coxswain,  John  Sykes,  an  old  and  faithful 
follower,  who  twice  saved  the  life  of  his  admiral, 
by  parrying  the  blows  that  were  aimed  at  him,  and, 
at  last,  actually  interposed  his  own  head  to  receive 
the  blow  of  a  Spanish  sabre,  which  he  could  not  by 
any  other  means  avert; — thus  dearly  was  Nelson 
beloved.  This  was  a  desperate  service — hand  to 
hand  with  swords :  and  Nelson  always  considered 
that  his  personal  courage  was  more  conspicuous  on 
this  occasion  than  on  any  other  during  his  whole 
life.  Notwithstanding  the  great  disproportion  of 
numbers,  eighteen  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  all  the 
rest  wounded  and  their  launch  taken.  Nelson  would 
have  asked  for  a  lieutenancy  for  Sykes,  if  he  had 
served  long  enough:  his  manner  and  conduct,  he 
observed,  were  so  entirely  above  his  situation,  that 
Nature  certainly  intended  him  for  a  gentleman :  but 
though  he  recovered  from  the  dangerous  wound 
which  he  received  in  this  act  of  heroic  attachment, 
he  did  not  live  to  profit  by  the  gratitude  and  friend- 
ship of  his  commander. 

Twelve  days  after  this  rencontre.  Nelson  sailed 
at  the  head  of  an  expedition  against  Teneriffe.  A 
report  had  prevailed  a  few  monthi  before,  that  the 
viceroy  of  Mexico,  with  the  treasure  ships,  had  put 


It   i:     ii8i 
J.     — 


THB  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


116 


are 
the 

was 

n  at 

the 

ever      > 
ni8h 
med     X 
Tre- 
wlth 
ntlOf 
thful 
liralf 
and, 
ceive 
otby 
elsoa 
id  to  K 
dered 
us  on 
whole 
on  of 
ill  the 
would 
e  had 
t,  he 
,  that 
but 
ound 
Lment, 
[riend- 


sailed 

e.    A 

the 

dput 


lat 


Into  that  island.  This  had  led  Nelson  to  meditate 
the  plan  of  an  attack  upon  it,  which  he  communi- 
cated to  Earl  St.  Vincent.  He  was  perfectly  aware 
of  the  diflflcultics  of  the  attempt.  *^  I  do  not,"  said 
he,  **  reclcon  myself  equal  to  Blake :  but,  if  I  recol- 
lect right,  he  was  more  obliged  to  the  wind  coming 
off  the  land  than  to  any  exertions  of  his  own.  The 
approach  by  sea  to  the  anchoring  place  is  under 
very  high  land,  passing  three  valleys ;  therefore  the 
wind  is  either  in  from  the  sea,  or  squally  with  calms 
from  the  mountains :  *'  and  he  perceived,  that  if  the 
Spanish  ships  were  won,  the  object  would  still  be 
frustrated,  if  the  wind  did  not  come  off  shore.  The 
land  force,  he  thought,  would  render  success  cer- 
tain :  and  there  were  the  troops  from  Elba,  with  all 
necessary  stores  and  artillery,  already  embarked. 
*^  But  here,"  said  he,  *^  soldiers  must  be  consulted ; 
and  I  know,  from  experience,  they  have  not  the 
same  boldness  in  undertaking  a  political  measure 
that  we  have :  we  look  to  the  benefit  of  our  country, 
and  risk  our  own  fame  every  day  to  serve  her;  a 
soldier  obeys  his  orders,  and  no  more."  Nelson's 
experience  at  Corsica  justified  him  in  his  harsh 
opinion ; — he  did  not  live  to  see  the  glorious  days  of 
the  British  army  under  Wellington.  The  army  from 
Elba,  consisting  of  3,700  men,  would  do  the  busi- 
ness, he  said,  in  three  days,  probably  in  much  less 
time ;  and  he  would  undertake,  with  a  very  small 
squadi'on,  to  perform  the  naval  part ;  for,  though 
the  shore  was  not  easy  of  access,  the  transports 
might  run  in  and  land  the  troops  in  one  day. 

The  report  concerning  the  viceroy  was  unfounded  ; 
but  a  homeward-bound  Manilla  ship  put  into  Santa 
Cruz  at  this  time,  and  the  expedition  was  determined 
upon.  It  was  not  fitted  out  upon  the  scale  which 
Nelson  had  proposed.  Four  ships  of  the  line,  three 
frigates,  and  the  Fox  cutter,  formed  the  squadron ; 


HI 


116 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


tm/l^he  was  ali^;w«?d  to  choose  such  ships  and  officers 
as  he  thought  proper.  No  troops  were  embarked : 
the  seamen  and  maiiiKt^  of  the  squadron  being 
thought  uofflcient.  His  orders  were  to  make  'j.  vig- 
orous attack  ;  but  on  no  account  to  land  in  person, 
unless  his  presence  ti^uld  be  absolutely  necessary. 
The  plan  was,  that  the  boats  should  land  in  the 
night,  between  the  fort  on  the  N.  E.  side  of  Santa 
Cruz  bay  and  the  town,  make  themselves  masters  of 
that  fort,  and  then  send  a  summons  to  the  Governor. 
By  midnight,  the  three  frigates,  having  the  force  on 
board  which  was  intended  for  this  debarkation,  ap- 
proached within  three  miles  of  the  place ;  but 
owing  to  a  strong  gale  of  wind  in  the  offing,  and  a 
strong  current  against  them  in-shore,  they  were  not 
able  to  get  within  a  mile  of  the  landing  placo  before 
day-break ;  and  then  they  were  seen,  and  their  in- 
tention discovered.  Trowbridge  and  Bowen,  with 
Captain  Oldfield,  of  the  marines,  went  upon  this  to 
consult  with  the  admiral  what  was  to  be  done ;  and 
it  was  resolved  that  they  should  attempt  to  get  pos- 
session of  the  hei|D;Utd  above  the  fort.  The  frigates 
accordiil|;ly  landed  their  men ;  and  Nelson  stood  in 
with  the  line-of -battle  ships,  meaning  to  batter  the 
fort,  for  the  purpose  of  distracting  the  attention  of 
the  garrison.  A  calm  and  contrary  current  hindered 
him  from  getting  within  a  league  of  the  shore  ;  and 
the  heights  were  by  this  time  so  secured,  and 
manned  with  such  a  force,  as  to  be  judged  imprac- 
ticable. Thus  foiled  in  his  plans  by  circumstances 
of  wind  and  tide,  he  still  consideroil  it  a  point  of 
honor  that  some  attempt  should  ht  «.vi(j(e.  Thi8 
was  on  the  22nd  of  July:  he  re-  'i^b.jj:*-  i  bis  m<;a 
that  night,  got  the  ships,  on  the  24th,  to  anchor 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  town,  and  made  show 
as  if  he  intended  to  attack  the  heights.  At  six  in 
be  eyeuing,   signal  was    made   for  the  boats  to 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


117 


prepare  to  proceed  on  the  service  as  previougiy 
ordered. 

When  this  was  done,  Nelson  addreBHcd  a  letter  to 
the  command  r-in-chii  i  -the  last  which  was  ever 
written  with  his  right  hand.  "T  shall  not,"  said 
'  he,  **  enter  on  the  si.bject,  why  we  arc  not  in  pos- 
session of  Santa  Cruz.  Your  partiality  will  give 
credit,  that  all  has  hitherto  been  done  which  was 
possible,  but,  without  effect.  This  night  I,  humble 
as  I  am,  command  the  whole,  destined  to  land  under 
the  batteries  of  the  town :  and,  to-morrow,  my  head 
will  probably  be  crowned  either  with  laurel  or 
cypress.  I  have  only  to  recommend  Josiah  Nisbet 
to  you  and  my  country.  The  Duke  of  Clarence, 
should  I  fall,  will,  I  am  confident,  take  a  lively  inter- 
est for  my  son-in-law,  on  his  name  being  men- 
tioned." Perfectly  aware  how  desperate  a  service 
this  was  likely  to  prove,  before  he  left  the  Theseus, 
he  called  Lieutenant  Nisbet,  who  had  the  watch  on 
deck,  iiito  the  cabin,  that  he  might  assist  in  arrang- 
ing and  burning  his  mother's  letters.  Terceiving 
that  the  young  man  was  armed,  he  earnestly  begged 
him  to  remain  behind.  "  Should  we  both  fall,  Jo- 
siah," said  he,  *'  what  would  become  of  your  poor 
mother.  The  care  of  the  Theseus  falls  to  you : 
stay,  therefore,  and  take  charge  of  her."  Nisbet 
replied:  "Sir,  the  ship  must  take  care  of  herself; 
I  will  go  with  you  to-night,  if  I  never  go  again." 

He  met  his  captains  at  supper  on  board  the  Sea- 
horse, Captain  Freemantle,  whose  wife,  whcm  he 
had  lately  maii'ied  in  the  Mediterranean,  pr*  sided 
at  table.  At  eleven  o'clock,  the  boats,  containing 
between  600  and  700  men,  with  180  on  board  the 
Fox  cutter,  and  from  70  to  80  in  a  boat  which  had 
been  taken  the  day  before,  proceeded  in  six  divi- 
sions toward  the  town,  conducted  by  all  the  captains 
of  the  squadron,  except  Freemantle  and  Bow  en, 


1 

J 


118 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


who  attended  with  Nelson  to  regulate  and  lead  the 
way  to  the  attack.  They  were  to  land  on  the  mole, 
and  thence  hasten,  as  fast  as  possible,  into  the  great 
square  ;  then  form,  and  proceed  as  should  be  found 
expedient.  They  were  not  discovered  till  about  half 
past  one  o'clock,  when  being  within  half  gun-shot 
of  the  landing  place,  Nelson  directed  the  boats  to 
cast  off  from  each  other,  give  a  huzza,  and  push  for 
the  shore.  But  the  Spaniards  were  excellently  well 
prepared :  the  alarm  bells  answered  the  huzza,  and 
a  fire  of  thirty  or  forty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  mus- 
quetry  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other, 
opened  upon  the  invaders.  Nothing,  however,  could 
check  the  intrepidity  with  which  they  advanced. 
The  night  was  exceedingly  dark ;  most  of  the  boats 
missed  the  mole  and  went  on  shore  through  a  rag- 
ing surf,  which  stove  all  to  the  left  of  it.  The 
Admiral,  Freemantle,  Thompson,  Bowen,  and  four 
or  five  other  boats,  found  the  mole  :  they  stormed  it 
instantly,  and  carried  it,  though  it  was  defended,  as 
they  imagined,  by  four  or  five  hundred  men.  Its 
guns,  which  were  six-and-twenty  pounders,  were 
spiked;  but  such  a  heavy  fire  of  musquetry  and 
grape  was  kept  up  from  the  citadel,  and  the  houses 
at  the  head  of  the  mole,  that  the  assailants  could 
not  advance,  and  nearly  all  of  them  were  killed  or 
wounded. 

In  the  act  of  stepping  out  of  the  boat.  Nelson  re- 
ceived a  shot  through  the  right  elbow,  and  fell; 
but,  as  he  fell,  he  caught  the  sword,  which  he  had 
just  drawn,  in  his  left  hand,  determined  never  to 
part  with  it  while  he  lived,  for  it  had  belonged  to  his 
uncle,  Captain  Suckling,  and  he  valued  it  like  a 
relic.  Nisbet  who  was  close  to  him,  placed  him  at 
the  bottom  of  the  boat,  and  laid  his  hat  over  the 
shattered  arm,  lest  the  sight  of  the  blood,  which 
gushed  out  in  great  abundance,  should  increase  his 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


110 


faintness.  He  then  examined  the  wound ;  and 
taking  some  silk  handkerchiefs  from  his  neck,  bound 
them  round  tight  above  the  lacerated  vessels.  Had  it 
not  been  for  this  presence  of  mind  in  his  son-in-law, 
Nelson  must  have  perished.  One  of  his  bargemen, 
by  name  Lovel,  tore  his  shirt  into  shreds,  and  made 
a  sling  with  them  for  the  broken  limb.  They  then 
collected  five  other  seamen,  by  whose  assistance 
they  succeeded,  at  length,  in  getting  the  boat  afloat ; 
for  it  had  grounded  with  the  falling  tide.  Nisbet 
took  one  of  the  oars,  and  ordered  the  steersman  to 
go  close  under  the  guns  of  the  battery,  that  they 
might  be  safe  from  its  tremendous  fire.  Hearing 
his  voice.  Nelson  roused  himself,  and  desired  to  be 
lifted  up  in  the  boat,  that  he  might  look  about  him. 
Nisbet  raised  him  up,  but  nothing  could  be  seen, 
except  the  firing  of  the  guns  on  shore,  and  what 
could  be  discerned  by  their  flashes  upon  the  stormy 
sea.  In  a  few  minutes  a  general  shriek  was  heard 
from  the  crew  of  the  Fox,  which  had  received  a  shot 
under  water,  and  went  down.  Ninety-seven  men 
were  lost  in  her ;  eighty-three  were  saved,  many  by 
Nelson  himself,  whose  exertions  on  this  occasion 
greatly  increased  the  pain  and  danger  of  his  wound. 
The  first  ship  which  the  boat  could  reach  happened 
to  be  the  Seahorse :  but  nothing  could  induce  him 
to  go  on  board,  though  he  was  assured,  that  if  they 
attempted  to  row  to  another  ship,  it  might  be  at 
the  risk  of  his  life.  "  I  had  rather  suffer  death,"  he 
replied,  "than  alarm  Mrs.  Freemantle,  by  letting 
her  see  me  in  this  state,  when  I  can  give  her  no 
tidings  whatever  of  her  husband."  They  pushed  on 
for  the  Theseus.  When  they  came  along-side,  he 
peremptorily  refused  all  assistance  in  getting  on 
board,  so  impatient  was  he  that  the  boat  should  re- 
turn, in  hopes  that  it  might  save  a  few  more  from 
the  Fox.     He  desired  to  have  only  a  single  rope 


I  ■, 


il 


■c^''':X: 


W:\ 


Hi      ilif.il    III 


120 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


thrown  over  the  side,  which  he  twisted  around  his 
left  hand,  saying  "Let  me  alone:  I  have  yet  my 
legs  left,  and  one  arm.  Tell  the  surgeon  to  make 
haste,  and  get  his  instruments.  I  know  I  must  lose 
my  right  arm ;  so  the  sooner  it  is  off  the  better."* 
The  spirit  which  he  displayed,  in  jumping  up  the 
ship's  side,  astonished  everybody. 

Freemantle  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the 
right  arm,  soon  after  the  admiral.  He  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  find  a  boat  at  the  beach,  and  got  in- 
stantly to  his  ship.  Thompson  was  wounded : 
Bowen  killed,  to  the  great  regret  of  Nelson  ;  as  was 
also  one  of  his  own  officers,  Lieutenant  Weather- 
head,  who  had  followed  him  from  the  Agamemnon 
and  whom  he  greatly  and  deservedly  esteemed 
Trowbridge,  meantime,  fortunately  for  his  party, 
missed  the  mole  in  the  darkness,  but  pushed  on 
shore  under  the  batteries,  close  to  the  south  end  of 
the  citadel.  Captain  Waller,  of  the  Emerald,  and 
two  or  three  other  boats,  landed  at  the  same  time. 
The  surf  was  so  high,  that  many  others  put  back. 
The  boats  were  instantly  filled  with  water,  and  stove 
against  the  rocks ;  and  most  of  the  ammunition  in 
the  men's  pouches  was  wetted.  Having  collected 
a  few  men,  they  pushed  on  to  the  great  square, 
hoping  there  to  find  the  admiral,  and  the  rest  of  the 
force.     The  ladders  were  all  lost,  so  that  they  could 

*  During  the  peace  of  Amiens,  when  Nelson  was  passing 
through  Salisbury,  and  received  there  with  those  acclama- 
tions which  followed  him  everywhere,  he  recognised,  amid 
the  crowd,  a  man  who  had  assisted  at  the  amputation,  and 
attended  him  afterwards.  He  beckone'  him  up  the  stairs 
of  the  Council  House,  shook  hands  with  him,  and  madehira 
a  present,  in  remembrance  of  his  services  at  that  time.  The 
man  took  from  his  bosom  a  piece  of  lace,  which  he  had  torn 
from  the  sleeve  of  the  amputated  limb,  saying,  he  had  pre- 
served, and  would  preserve  it  to  the  last  moment,  in 
memory  of  his  old  commander. 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


121 


make  no  immediate  attempt  on  the  citadel;  but 
they  sent  a  sergeant,  with  two  of  the  town's  people, 
to  summon  it :  this  messenger  never  returned ;  and 
Trowbridge  having  waited  about  an  hour,  in  painful 
expectation  of  his  friends,  marched  to  join  Captains 
Hood  and  Miller,  who  had  effected  their  landing  to 
the  south-west.  They  then  endeavored  to  procure 
some  intelligence  of  the  admiral  and  the  rest  of  the 
officers  but  without  success.  By  daybreak  they  had 
gathered  together  about  eighty  marines,  eighty 
pikemen,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  small-arm 
seamen ;  all  the  survivors  of  those  who  had  made 
good  their  landing.  They  obtained  some  ammuni- 
tion from  the  prisoners  whom  they  had  taken ;  and 
marched  on,  to  try  what  could  be  done  at  the  citadel 
without  ladders.  They  found  all  the  streets  com- 
manded by  field  pieces,  and  several  thousand 
Spaniards,  with  about  a  hundred  French,  under  arms, 
approaching  by  every  avenue.  Finding  himself 
without  provisions,  the  powder  wet,  and  no  possi- 
bility of  obtaining  either  stores  or  reinforcements 
from  the  ships,  the  boats  being  lost,  Trowbridge, 
with  great  presence  of  mind,  sent  Captain  Samuel 
Hood  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  governor,  to  say  he 
was  prepared  to  burn  the  town,  and  would  instantly 
set  fire  to  it,  if  the  Spaniards  approached  one  inch 
nearer : — This,  however,  if  he  were  compelled  to  do 
it,  he  should  do  with  regret,  for  he  had  no  wish  to 
injure  the  inhabitants :  and  he  was  ready  to  treat 
upon  these  terms, — that  the  British  troops  should 
re-embark,  with  all  their  arms,  of  every  kind,"  and 
take  their  own  boats,  if  they  were  saved,  or  be  pro- 
vided with  such  others  as  might  be  wanting :  they, 
on  their  part,  engaging  that  the  squadron  should  not 
molest  the  town,  nor  any  of  the  Canary  Islands :  all 
prisoners  on  both  sides  to  be  given  up.  When  these 
terms  were  proposed,  the  governor  made  answer, 
r 


\. 


122 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


i 


i 


that  the  English  ought  to  surrender  as  prisoners  of 
war :  but  Captain  Hood  replied,  he  was  instructed  to 
say,  that  if  the  terms  were  not  accepted  in  five 
minutes,  Captain  Trowbridge  would  set  the  town  on 
fire,  and  attack  the  Spaniards  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  Satisfied  with  his  success,  which  was  in- 
deed suflSciently  complete,  and  respecting,  like  a 
brave  and  honorable  man,  the  gallantry  of  his  enemy, 
the  Spaniard  acceded  to  the  proposal.  "  And  here," 
says  Nelson  in  his  journal,  **  it  is  right  we  should 
notice  the  noble  and  generous  conduct  of  Don  Juan 
Antonio  Gutien'ez,  the  Spanish  governor.  The 
moment  the  terms  were  agreed  to,  he  directed  our 
wounded  men  to  be  received  into  the  hospitals,  and 
all  our  people  to  be  supplied  with  the  best  provisions 
that  could  be  procured ;  and  made  it  known,  that 
the  ships  were  at  liberty  to  send  on  shore,  and  pur- 
chase whatever  refreshments  they  were  in  want  of 
during  the  time  they  might  be  off  the  island."  A 
youth,  by  name,  Don  Bernardo  Collagon,  stript  him- 
self of  his  shirt  to  make  bandages  for  one  of  those 
Englishmen,  against  whom,  not  an  hour  before,  he 
had  been  engaged  in  battle.  Nelson  wrote  to  thank 
the  governor  for  the  humanity  which  he  had  dis- 
played. Presents  were  interchanged  between  them. 
Sir  Horatio  offered  to  take  charge  of  his  despatches 
for  the  Spanish  government ;  and  thus  actually  be- 
came the  first  messenger  to  Spain  of  his  own  defeat. 
The  total  loss  of  the  English,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  drowned,  amounted  to  250.  Nelson  made  no 
mention  of  his  own  wounds  in  his  oflScial  despatches : 
but  in  a  private  letter  to  Lord  St.  Vincent — the  first 
which  he  wrote  with  his  left  hand — he  shows  himself 
to  have  been  deeply  affected  by  the  failure  of  this 
enterprise.  *'  I  am  become,"  he  said,  "  a  burthen 
to  my  friends,  and  useless  to  my  country :  but  by  my 
last  letter  you  will  perceive  my  anxiety  for  the  pro* 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


128 


motion  of  my  son-in-law,  Josiah  Nisbet.  When  I 
leave  your  command,  I  become  dead  to  the  world : 
— *  I  go  hence  and  am  no  more  seen.'  If  from  poor 
Bowen's  loss  you  think  it  proper  to  oblige  me,  I  rest 
confident  you  will  do  it.  The  boy  is  under  obligations 
to  me ;  but  he  repaid  me,  by  bringing  me  from  the 
mole  of  Santa  Cruz.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to 
give  me  a  frigate,  to  convey  the  remains  of  my  car- 
cass to  England." — "A  left-handed  admiral,"  he 
said  in  a  subsequent  letter,  "  will  never  again  be 
considered  as  useful ;  therefore,  the  sooner  I  get  to 
a  very  humble  cottage  the  better ;  and  make  room 
for  a  sounder  man  to  serve  the  state."  His  first 
letter  to  Lady  Nelson  was  written  under  the  same 
opinion,  but  in  a  more  cheerful  strain.  *'  It  was  the 
chance  of  war,"  said  he,  *'  and  I  have  great  reason  to 
be  thankful :  and  I  know  it  will  add  much  to  your 
pleasure  to  find,  that  Josiah,  under  God's  providence, 
was  principally  instrumental  in  saving  my  life.  1 
shall  not  be  surprised  if  I  am  neglected  and  forgot- 
ten :  probably  I  shall  no  longer  be  considered  as  use- 
ful :  however,  I  shall  feel  rich  if  I  continue  to  enjoy 
your  affection.  I  beg  neither  you  nor  my  father 
will  think  much  of  this  mishap ;— rmy  mind  has  long 
been  made  up  to  such  an  event." 

His  son-in-law,  according  to  his  wish,  was  imme- 
diately promoted ;  and  honors  enough  to  heal  his 
wounded  spii'it  awaited  him  in  England.  Letters 
were  addressed  to  him  by  the  first  lord  of  the  admi- 
ralty, and  by  his  steady  friend,  the  Duke  of  Clarence, 
to  congratulate  him  on  his  return,  covered  as  he 
was  with  glory.  He  assured  the  duke,  in  his  reply, 
that  not  a  scrap  of  that  ardor  with  which  he  had 
hitherto  served  his  king,  had  been  shot  away.  The 
freedom  of  the  cities  of  Bristol  and  London  was 
transmitted  to  him  :  he  was  invested  with  the  Order 
of  the  Bath  ;'  and  received  a  pension  of  £1000  a-year. 


124 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


The  memorial  which,  as  a  matter  of  form,  he  was 
called  upon  to  present  on  this  occasion,  exhibited  an 
exti'aordinary  catalogue  of  services  performed  during 
the  war.  It  stated,  that  he  had  been  in  four  actions 
with  the  fleets  of  the  enemy,  and  in  three  actions 
with  boats  employed  in  cutting  out  of  harbor,  in 
destroying  vessels,  and  in  taking  three  towns :  he 
had  served  on  shore  with  the  array  four  months,  and 
commanded  the  batteries  at  the  sieges  of  Bastia  and 
Calvi ;  he  had  assisted  at  the  capture  of  seven  sail  of 
the  line,  six  frigates,  four  corvettes,  and  eleven  pri- 
vateers :  taken  and  destroyed  nearly  fifty  sail  of 
merchant  vessels ;  and  actually  been  engaged  against 
the  enemy  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
times  ;  in  which  service  he  had  lost  his  right  eye  and 
right  arm,  and  been  severely  wounded  and  bruised 
in  his  body. 

His  sufferings  from  the  lost  limb  were  long  and 
painful.  A  nerve  had  been  taken  up  in  one  of  the 
ligatures  at  the  time  of  the  operation ;  and  the 
ligature,  according  to  the  practice  of  the  French 
surgeons,  was  of  silk,  instead  of  waxed  thread :  this 
produced  a  constant  irritation  and  discharge ;  and 
the  ends  of  the  ligature  being  pulled  every  day,  in 
hopes  of  bringing  it  away,  occasioned  fresh  agony. 
He  had  scarcely  any  intermission  of  pain,  day  or 
night,  for  three  months  after  his  return  to  England. 
Lady  Nelson,  at  his  earnest  request,  attended  the 
dressing  of  his  arm,  till  she  had  acquired  sufficient 
resolution  and  skill  to  dress  it  herself.  One  night, 
during  this  state  of  sulBfering,  after  a  day  of  constant 
pain,  Nelson  retired  early  to  bed,  in  hope  of  enjoy- 
ing some  respite  by  means  of  laudanum.  He  was  at 
that  time  lodging  in  Bond  Street ;  and  the  family 
were  soon  disturbed  by  a  mob  knocking  loudly  and 
violently  at  the  door.  The  news  of  Duncan's  victory 
had  been  made  public,  and  the  house  was  not  illumi- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


125 


Dated.  But  when  the  mob  were  told  that  Admiral 
Nelson  lay  there  in  bed,  badly  wounded,  the  fore- 
most of  them  made  answer:  "You  shall  hear  no 
more  from  us  to-night ; "  and,  in  fact,  the  feeling  of 
respect  and  sympathy  was  communicated  fi'om  one 
to  another  with  such  effect,  that,  under  the  confusion 
of  such  a  night,  the  house  was  not  molested  again. 

About  the  end  of  November,  after  a  night  of 
sound  sleep,  he  found  the  arm  nearly  free  from  pain : 
the  surgeon  was  immediately  sent  for,  to  examine 
it ;  and  the  ligature  came  away  with  the  slightest 
touch.  From  that  time  it  began  to  heal.  As  soon 
as  he  thought  his  health  established,  he  sent  the 
following  form  of  thanksgiving  to  the  minister  of 
St.  George's,  Hanover  Square : — **  An  officer  desires 
to  return  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  his  perfect 
recovery  from  a  severe  wound,  and  also  for  the  many 
mercies  bestowed  on  him." 

Not  having  been  in  England  till  now,  since  he  lost 
his  eye,  he  went  to  receive  a  year's  pay,  as  smart 
money ;  but  could  not  obtain  payment,  because  he 
had  neglected  to  bring  a  certificate  from  a  surgeon 
that  the  sight  was  actually  destroyed.  A  little 
instated  that  this  form  should  be  insisted  upon; 
because,  though  the  fact  was  not  apparent,  he 
thought  it  was  sufficiently  notorious,  he  procured  a 
certificate  at  the  same  time,  for  the  loss  of  his  arm ; 
saying,  they  might  just  as  well  doubt  one  as  the 
other.  This  put  him  in  good  humor  with  himself,  and 
with  the  clerk  who  had  offended  him.  On  his  return 
to  the  office,  the  clerk,  finding  it  was  only  the  annual 
pay  of  a  captain,  observed,  he  thought  it  had  been 
more.  "  Oh ! "  replied  Nelson,  "  this  is  only  for  an 
eye.  In  a  few  days  I  shall  come  for  an  arm  ;  and  in 
a  little  time  longer,  God  knows,  most  probably  for  a 
leg."  Accordingly,  he  soon  afterwards  went ;  and 
with  perfect  good  humor  exhibited  the  certificate  of 
the  loss  of  his  arm. 


1 1  \l 


itrf^ 


\ 


m 


:   \ 


Blowing  up  ofVOrunt 

CHAPTER  V. 


"pARLY  in  the  year  1798,  Sir  Horatio  Nelson 
•*-^  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Vanguard,  and  was  or- 
dered to  rejoin  Earl  St.  Vincent.  Upon  his  depart- 
ure, his  father  addressed  him  with  that  affectionate 
solemnity  by  which  all  his  letters  were  distinguished. 
"  I  trust  in  the  Lord,"  said  he,  "  that  He  will  pros- 
per your  going  out  and  your  coming  in.  I  earnestly 
desired  once  more  to  see  you,  and  that  wish  has 
been  heard.  If  I  should  presume  to  say,  I  hope  to 
see  you  again,  the  question  would  be  readily  asked. 
How  old  ai't  thou?     VaUl  vale!  Domine,  vale/" 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


127 


on 
5r- 
rt- 
ite 
id. 

)S- 

ly 

as 
to 
d, 

it 


It  is  said  that  a  gloomy  foreboding  i.  jg  on  the 
spirits  of  Lady  Nelson  at  their  parting.  This  could 
have  arisen  only  from  the  dread  of  losing  him  by 
the  chance  of  war.  Any  apprehension  of  losing 
his  affections  could  hardly  have  existed ;  for  all  his 
correspondence  to  this  time  shows  that  he  thought 
himself  happy  in  his  marriage ;  and  his  private 
character  had  hitherto  been  as  spotless  as  his  public 
conduct.  One  of  the  last  things  he  said  to  her  was, 
that  his  own  ambition  was  satisfied,  but  that  he 
went  to  raise  her  to  that  rank  in  which  he  had  long 
wished  to  see  her. 

Immediately  on  his  rejoining  the  fleet,  he  was 
despatched  to  the  Mediterranean,  with  a  small 
squadron,  in  order  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  ob- 
ject of  the  great  expedition  which  at  that  time  was 
fitting  out,  under  Bonaparte,  at  Toulon.  The  defeat 
of  this  armament,  whatever  might  be  its  destination, 
was  deemed  by  the  British  government  an  object 
paramount  to  every  other;  and  Earl  St.  Vincent 
was  directed,  if  he  thought  it  necessary,  to  take  his 
whole  force  into  the  Mediterranean,  to  relinquish, 
for  that  purpose,  the  blockade  of  the  Spanish  fleet, 
as  a  thing  of  inferior  moment:  but,  if  he  should 
deem  a  detachment  sufiScient,  ^^I  think  it  almost 
unnecessary,"  said  the  first  lord  of  the  admiralty, 
in  his  secret  instructions,  "  to  suggest  to  you  the 
propriety  of  putting  it  under  Sir  Horatio  Nelson." 
It  is  to  the  honor  of  Earl  St.  Vincent,  that  he  had 
already  made  the  same  choice. 

The  armament  of  Toulon,  consisted  of  thirteen 
ships  of  the  line,  seven  forty-gun  frigates,  with 
twenty-four  smaller  vessels  of  war,  and  nearly  200 
transports.  Mr.  Udney,  our  consul  at  Leghorn, 
was  the  first  person  who  procured  certain  intelli- 
gence of  the  enemy's  design  against  Malta;  and, 
from  his  own  sagacity,  foresaw  that  Egypt  must  be 


/^ 


128 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


'   i! 


Ih 


their  after-object.  Nelson  sailed  from  Gibraltar  on 
the  9th  of  May,  with  the  Vanguard,  Orion,  and 
Alexander,  seventy-fours ;  the  Caroline,  Flora,  Em- 
erald, and  Terpsichore  frigates ;  and  the  Bonne 
Citoyenne  sloop-of-war,  to  watch  this  formidable 
armament.  On  the  19th,  when  they  were  in  the 
Gulf  of  Lyons,  a  gale  came  on  from  the  N.  W.  It 
moderated  so  much  on  the  20th,  as  to  enable  them 
to  get  their  top-gallant-masts  and  yards  aloft.  After 
dark,  it  again  began  to  blow  strong  ;  but  the  ships 
had  been  prepared  for  a  gale,  and  therefore  Nel- 
son's mind  was  easy.  Shortly  after  midnight,  how- 
ever, his  main- top-mast  went  over  the  side,  and  the 
mizzen-top-mast  soon  afterward.  The  night  was  so 
tempestuous,  that  it  was  impossible  for  any  signal 
either  to  be  seen  or  heard  ;  and  Nelson  determined, 
as  soon  as  it  should  be  day-break,  to  wear,  and 
scud  before  the  gale :  but,  at  half-past  three  the 
foremast  went  in  three  pieces,  and  the  bowsprit  was 
found  to  be  sprang  in  three  places. 

When  day  broke,  they  succeeded  in  wearing  the 
ship  with  a  remnant  of  the  spritsa  1 :  this  was  hardly 
to  have  been  expected :  the  Vanguard  was  at  that 
time  twenty-five  leagues  south  of  the  islands  of 
Hieres,  with  her  head  lying  to  the  N.  E.,  and  if  she 
had  not  wore,  the  ship  must  have  drifted  to  Corsica. 
Captain  Ball,  in  the  Alexander,  took  her  in  tow,  to 
carry  her  into  the  Sardinian  harbor  of  St.  Pietro. 
Nelson,  apprehensive  that  this  attempt  might  en- 
danger both  vessels,  ordered  him  to  cast  off ;  but 
that  excellent  oflScer,  with  a  spirit  like  his  com- 
mander's, replied,  he  was  confident  he  could  save  the 
Vanguard,  and  by  God's  help  he  would  do  it.  There 
had  been  a  previous  coolness  between  these  great 
men ;  but  from  this  time  Nelson  became  fully  sensi- 
ble of  the  extraordinary  talents  of  Captain  Ball, 
and  a  sincere  friendship  subsisted  between  them 


/. 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 


W 


during  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  "  I  ought  not," 
said  the  admiral,  writing  to  his  wife,  *'  I  ought  not 
to  call  what  has  happened  to  the  Vanguard  by  the 
cold  name  of  accident ;  I  believe  firmly  it  was  the 
Almighty's  goodness,  to  check  my  consummate 
'  vanity.  I  hope  it  has  made  me  a  better  oflScer,  as 
I  feel  confident  it  has  made  me  a  better  man. 
Figure  to  yourself,  on  Sunday  evening,  at  sunset,  a 
vain  man  walking  in  his  cabin,  with  a  squadron 
around  him,  who  looked  up  to  their  chief  to  lead 
them  to  glory,  and  in  whom  their  chief  placed 
the  firmest  reliance  that  the  proudest  ships  of  equal 
numbers  belonging  to  France  would  have  lowered 
their  flags ;  figure  to  yourself,  on  Monday  morning, 
when  the  sun  rose,  this  proud  man,  his  ship  dis- 
masted, his  fleet  dispersed,  and  himself  in  such 
distress  that  the  meanest  frigate  out  of  France 
would  have  been  an  unwelcome  guest."  Nelson 
had,  indeed,  more  reason  to  refuse  the  cold  name 
of  accident  to  this  tempest,  than  he  was  then  aware 
of;  for  on  that  very  day  the  French  fleet  sailed 
from  Toulon,  and  must  have  passed  within  a  few 
leagues  of  his  little  squadron,  which  was  thus  pre- 
served by  the  thick  weather  that  came  on. 

The  British  government  at  this  time,  with  a  be- 
coming spirit,  gave  orders,  that  any  port  in  the 
Mediterranean  should  be  considered  as  hostile,  where 
the  governor  or  chief  magistrate  should  refuse  to 
let  our  ships  of  war  procure  supplies  of  provisions, 
or  of  any  article  which  they  might  require. 

In  the  orders  of  the  British  government  to  con- 
sider all  ports  as  hostile  where  the  British  ships 
should  be  refused  supplies,  the  ports  of  Sardinia 
were  excepted.  The  continental  possessions  of  the 
King  of  Sardinia  were  at  this  time  completely  at  the 
mercy  of  the  French,  and  that  prince  was  now  dis- 
covering, when  too  late,  that  the  teims  to  which  he 

e 


ih^^A-mf^Y-f « 


s.-^r,  ■.-Vvi*  - .  >*••  ■»^- 


180 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


1    "I 
'■    11 


had  consented,  for  the  purpose  of  escaping  immedi- 
ate danger,  necessarily  involved   the   loss  of   the 
dominions  which  they  were  intended  to  preserve. 
The  citadel  of  Turin  was  now  occupied  by  French 
troops  ;  and  his  wretched  court  feared  to  aflford  the 
common  rights  of  humanity  to  British  ships,  lest  it 
should  give  the  French  occasion  to  seize  on  the  re- 
mainder of  his  dominions  : — a  measure  for  which,  it 
was  certain,  they  would  soon  make  a  pretext,  if 
they  did  not  find  one.     Nelson  was  informed,  that 
he  could  not  be  permitted  to  enter  the  port  of  St. 
Pietro.     Regardless  of  this  interdict,  which,  under 
his  circumstances,  it  would  have  been  an  act  of  sui- 
cidal folly  to  have  regarded,  he  anchored  in  the  har- 
bor ;  and,  by  the  exertions  of  Sir  James  Saumarez, 
Captain  Ball  and  Captain  Berry,  the  Vanguard  was 
refitted  in  four  days  ;  months  would  have  been  em- 
ployed in  refitting  her  in  England.     Nelson,  with 
that  proper  sense  of  merit  wherever  it  was  found, 
which  proved  at  once  the  goodness  and  the  great- 
ness of  his  character,  especially  recommended  to 
Earl  St.  Vincent  the  carpenter  of  the  Alexander, 
under  whose  direction  the  ship  had  been  repaired ; 
stating  that  he  was  an  old  and  faithful  servant  of 
the  crown,  who  had  been  nearly  thirty  years  a  war- 
rant carpenter;    and  begging  most  earnestly  that 
the  commander-in-chief  would  recommend  him  to 
the  particular  notice  of   the  board  of   admiralty. 
He  did  not  leave  the  harbor  without  expressing  his 
sense  of  the  treatment  which  he  had  received  there, 
in  a  letter  to  the  viceroy  of  Sardinia. — *'  Sir,"  it 
said,  ^^  having,  by  a  gale  of  wind,  sustained  some 
trifling  damages,  I  anchored  a  small  part  of   his 
Majesty's  fleet  under  my  orders  off  this  island,  and 
was  surprised  to  hear,  by  an  oflflcer  sent  by  the  gov- 
ernor, that  admittance  was  to  be  refused  to  the  flag 
of  his  Britannic  Majesty  into  this  port.    When  I 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


181 


to 


reflect,  that  my  most  gracious  sovereign  is  the  old- 
est, I  believe,  and  certainly  the  most  faithful  ally 
which  the  king  of  Sardinia  ever  had,  I  could  feel 
the  sorrow  which  it  must  have  been  to  his  Majesty 
t  )  have  given  such  an  order ;  and  also  for  your  ex- 
cellency, who  had  to  direct  its  execution.  I  cannot 
but  look  at  the  African  shore,  where  the  followers 
of  Mohammed  are  performing  the  part  of  the  good 
Samaritan,  which  I  look  for  in  vain  at  St.  Peter's, 
where  it  is  said  the  Christian  religion  is  professed." 
The  delay  which  was  thus  occasioned,  was  useful 
to  him  in  many  respects :  it  enabled  him  to  complete 
his  supply  of  water,  and  to  receive  a  reinforce- 
ment, which  Earl  St.  Vincent,  being  himself  rein- 
forced from  England,  was  enabled  to  send  him.  It 
consisted  of  the  best  ships  of  his  fleet :  the  Cullo- 
den,  seventy-four,  Captain  T.  Trowbridge  ;  Goliath, 
seventy-four.  Captain  T.  Foley  ;  Minotaur,  seventy- 
four.  Captain  T.  Louis ;  Defence,  seventy-four, 
Captain  John  Peyton ;  Bellerophon,  seventy-four, 
Captain  H.  D.  E.  Df-rby ;  Majestic,  seventy-four, 
Captain  G.  B.  Westcott ;  Zealous,  seventy-four, 
Captain  S.  Hood ;  Swiftsure,  seventy-four.  Captain 
B.  Hallowell ;  Theseus,  seventy-four.  Captain  R.  W. 
Miller ;  Audacious,  seventy-four.  Captain  Davidge 
Gould.  The  Leander,  fifty.  Captain  T.  B.  Thomp- 
son, was  afterwards  added.  These  ships  were  made 
ready  for  the  service  as  soon  as  Earl  St.  Vincent  re- 
ceived advice  from  England  that  he  was  to  be  rein- 
forced. As  soon  as  the  reinforcement  was  seen 
from  the  mast-head  of  the  admiral's  ship,  off  Cadiz 
bay,  signal  was  immediately  made  to  Captain  Trow- 
bridge to  put  to  sea ;  and  he  was  out  of  sight  be- 
fore the  ships  from  home  cast  anchor  in  the  British 
station.  Trowbridge  took  with  him  no  instructions 
to  Nelson  as  to  the  course  he  was  to  steer,  nor  any 
certain  account  of  the  enemy's  destination :  every- 


W-i 


132 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


I'ii' 


thing  was  left  to  his  own  judgment.  Unfortunately, 
the  frigates  had  been  separated  from  him  in  the 
tempest,  and  had  not  been  able  to  rejoin :  they 
sought  him  unsuccessfully  in  the  Bay  of  Naples, 
where  they  obtained  no  tidings  of  his  course :  and 
he  sailed  without  them. 

The  first  news  of  the  enemy's  armament  was,  that 
it  had  surprised  Malta.  Nelson  formed  a  plan  for 
attacking  it  while  at  anchor  at  Gozo :  but  on  the 
22d  of  June  intelligence  reached  him  that  the 
French  had  left  that  island  on  the  16th,  the  day 
after  their  arrival.  It  was  clear  that  their  destina- 
tion was  eastward — he  thought  for  Egypt — and  for 
Egypt,  therefore,  he  made  all  sail.  Had  the  frigates 
been  with  him  he  could  scarcely  have  failed  to  gain 
information  of  the  enemy :  for  want  of  them,  he 
only  spoke  three  vessels  on  the  way ;  two  came  from 
Alexandria,  one  from  the  Archipelago ;  and  neither 
of  them  had  seen  anything  of  the  French.  He  ar- 
rived off  Alexandria  on  the  28th,  and  the  enemy 
were  not  there,  neither  was  there  any  account  of 
them ;  but  the  governor  was  endeavoring  to  put  the 
city  in  a  state  of  defence,  having  received  advice 
from  Leghorn,  that  the  French  expedition  was  in- 
tended against  Eg}>pt,  after  it  had  taken  Malta. 
Nelson  then  shaped  his  course  to  the  northward,  for 
Caramania,  and  steered  from  thence  along  the 
southern  side  of  Candia,  caiTying  a  press  of  sail, 
both  night  and  day,  with  a  contrary  wind.  It  would 
have  been  his  delight,  he  said,  to  have  tried  Bona- 
parte on  the  wind.  It  would  have  been  the  delight 
of  Europe,  too,  and  the  blessing  of  the  world,  if  that 
fleet  had  been  overtaken  with  its  general  on  board. 
But  of  the  myriads  and  millions  of  human  beings 
who  would  have  been  preserved  by  that  day's  vic- 
tory, there  is  not  one  to  whom  such  essential  benefit 
would  have  resulted,  as  to  Bonaparte  himself.     It 


THE  LIFE   OF  NELSON. 


188 


would  have  spared  him  his  defeat  at  Acre — his  only 
disgrace  ;  for  to  have  been  defeated  by  Nelson  upon 
the  seas  would  not  have  been  disgraceful ;  and  it 
would  have  spared  him  all  his  after  enormities. 
Hitherto  his  career  had  been  glorious ;  the  baneful 
principles  of  his  heart  had  never  yet  passed  his  lips  ; 
history  would  have  represented  him  as  a  soldier  of 
fortune,  who  had  faithfully  served  the  cause  in 
which  he  engaged ;  and  whose  career  had  been  dis- 
tinguished by  a  series  of  successes,  unexampled  in 
modern  times.  A  romantic  obscurity  would  have 
hung  over  the  expedition  to  Egypt,  and  he  would 
have  escaped  the  perpetration  of  those  crimes  which 
have  incarnadined  his  soul  with  a  deeper  dye  than 
that  of  the  purple  for  which  he  committed  them — 
those  acts  of  perfidy,  midnight  murder,  usurpation, 
and  remorseless  tyranny,  which  have  consigned  hia 
name  to  universal  execration,  now  and  forever. 

Conceiving  that  when  an  officer  is  not  successful 
in  his  plans,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  he  should 
explain  the  motives  upon  which  they  were  founded, 
Nelson  wrote  at  this  time  an  account  and  vindication 
of  his  conduct  for  having  carried  the  fleet  to  Egypt. 
The  objection  which  he  anticipated  was,  that  he 
ought  not  to  have  made  so  long  a  voyage  without 
more  certain  information.  "  My  answer,"  said  he, 
"  is  ready — Who  was  I  to  get  it  from?  The  govern- 
ments of  Naples  and  Sicily  either  knew  not,  or  chose 
to  keep  me  in  ignorance.  "Was  I  to  wait  patiently 
until  I  heard  certain  accounts?  If  Egypt  were 
their  object,  before  I  could  hear  of  them  they  would 
have  been  in  India.  To  do  nothing  was  disgraceful ; 
therefore  I  made  use  of  my  understanding.  I  am 
before  your  lordships'  judgment ;  and  if,  under  all 
circumstances,  it  is  decided  that  I  am  wrong,  I  ought, 
for  the  sake  of  our  country,  to  be  superseded ;  for 
at  this  moment  when  I  know  the  French  are  not  in 


134 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


SI 


PI 


Alexandria,  I  hold  the  same  opinion  as  off  Cape 
Passaro — that,  under  all  circumstances,  I  was  right 
in  steering  for  Alexandria ;  and  by  that  opinion  I 
must  stand  or  fall."  Captain  Ball,  to  whom  he 
showed  this  paper,  told  him,  he  should  recommend 
a  friend  never  to  begin  a  defence  of  his  conduct 
before  he  was  accused  of  error :  he  might  give  the 
fullest  reasons  for  what  he  had  done,  expressed  in 
such  terms  as  would  evince  that  he  had  acted  from 
the  strongest  conviction  of  being  right;  and  of 
course  he  must  expect  that  the  public  would  view  it 
in  the  same  light.  Captain  Ball  judged  rightly  of 
the  public,  whose  first  impulses,  though  from  want 
of  sufficient  information  they  must  frequently  be 
eiToneous,  are  generally  founded  upon  just  feelings. 
But  the  public  are  easily  misled,  and  there  are 
always  persons  ready  to  mislead  them.  Nelson  had 
not  yet  attained  that  fame  which  compels  envy  to  be 
silent ;  and  when  it  was  known  in  England  that  he 
had  returned  after  an  unsuccessful  pursuit,  it  was 
said  that  he  deserved  impeachment ;  and  Earl  St. 
Vincent  was  severely  censured  for  having  sent  so 
young  an  officer  upon  so  important  a  service. 

Baffled  in  his  pursuit,  he  returned  to  Sicily.  The 
Neapolitan  ministry  had  determined  to  give  his 
squadron  no  assistance,  being  resolved  to  do  nothing 
which  could  possibly  endanger  their  peace  with  the 
French  directory :  by  means,  however,  of  Lady 
Hamilton's  influence  at  Court,  he  procured  secret 
orders  to  the  Sicilian  governors ;  and,  under  those 
orders  obtained  everything  which  he  wanted  at 
Syracuse : — a  timely  supply ;  without  which,  he 
always  said,  he  could  not  have  recommenced  his 
pursuit  with  any  hope  of  success.  "It  is  an  old 
saying,"  said  he  in  his  letter,  "that  the  devil's 
children  have  the  devil's  luck.  I  cannot  to  this 
moment  learn  beyond  vague  conjecture  where  the 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


116 


French  fleet  are  gone  to ;  and  having  gone  a  round 
of  six  hundred  leagues  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
with  an  expedition  incredible,  here  I  am,  as  ignorant 
of  the  situation  of  the  enemy  as  I  was  twenty-seven 
days  ago.  Every  moment  I  have  to  regret  the 
frigates  having  left  me ;  had  one  half  of  them  been 
with  me,  I  could  not  have  wanted  information. 
Should  the  French  be  so  strongly  secured  in  port 
that  I  cannot  get  at  them,  I  shall  immediately  shift 
my  flag  into  some  other  ship,  and  send  the  Vanguard 
to  Naples  to  be  refitted ;  for  hardly  any  person  but 
myself  would  have  continued  on  service  so  long  in 
such  a  wretched  state."  Vexed,  however,  and  dis- 
appointed as  he  was,  Nelson,  with  the  true  spirit  of 
a  hero,  was  still  full  of  hope.  *'  Thanks  to  your  exer- 
tions," said  he,  writing  to  Sir  William  and  Lady 
Hamilton,  "  we  have  victualled  and  watered ;  and 
surely  watering  at  the  fountain  of  Arethusa,  we  must 
have  victory.  We  shall  sail  with  the  first  breeze ; 
and  be  assured  I  will  return  either  crowned  with 
laurel  or  covered  with  cypress."  Earl  St.  Vincent 
he  assured,  that  if  the  French  were  above  water  he 
would  find  them  out : — be  still  held  his  opinion  that 
they  were  bound  for  Egypt :  "  but,"  said  he  to  the 
first  lord  of  the  Admiralty,  "  be  they  bound  to  the 
antipodes,  your  lordship  may  rely  that  I  will  not  lose 
a  moment  in  bringing  them  to  action." 

On  the  25th  of  July  he  sailed  from  Syracuse  for 
the  Morea.  Anxious  beyond  measure,  and  irritated 
that  the  enemy  should  so  long  have  eluded  him,  the 
tediousness  of  the  nights  made  him  impatient ;  and 
the  officer  of  the  watch  was  repeatedly  called  on  to 
let  him  know  the  hour,  and  convince  him,  who 
measured  time  by  his  own  eagerness,  that  it  was  not 
yet  day-break.  The  squadron  made  the  gulf  of 
Coron  on  the  28th.  Trowbridge  entered  the  port, 
and  returned  with  the  intelligence  that  the  French 


im 


THE  LITE  OF  NELSON. 


a  pt 


W 


J 

■ 


had  been  seen  about  four  weeks  before  steering  to 
the  S.  E.  from  Candla.  Nelson  then  determined 
immediately  to  return  to  Alexandria,  and  the  British 
fleet  accordingly,  with  every  sail  set,  stood  once  more 
for  the  coast  of  Egypt.  On  the  1st  of  August,  about 
ten  in  the  morning,  they  came  in  sight  of  Alexan- 
dria ;  the  port  had  been  vacant  and  solitary  when 
they  saw  it  last ;  it  was  now  crowded  with  ships, 
and  they  perceived  with  exultation  that  the  tri-color 
flag  was  flying  upon  the  walls.  At  four  in  the  after- 
noon. Captain  Hood  in  the  Zealous,  made  the  signal 
for  the  enemy's  fleet.  For  many  preceding  days 
Nelson  had  hardly  taken  either  sleep  or  food :  he 
now  ordered  his  dinner  to  be  served,  while  prepara- 
tions were  making  for  battle  ;  and  when  his  officers 
rose  from  the  table,  and  went  to  their  separate 
stations,  he  said  to  them :  "  Before  this  time  to- 
morrow, I  shall  have  gained  a  peerage  or  Westmin- 
ster Abbey.'' 

The  French,  steering  direct  for  Candia,  had  made 
an  angular  passage  for  Alexandria  ;  whereas  Nelson, 
in  pursuit  of  them,  made  straight  for  that  place,  and 
thus  materially  shoi^tened  the  distance.  The  com- 
parative smallness  of  his  force  made  it  necessary  to 
sail  in  close  order,  and  it  covered  a  less  space  than  it 
would  have  done  if  the  frigates  had  been  with  him : 
the  weather  also  was  constantly  hazy.  These  cir- 
cumstances prevented  the  English  from  discovering 
the  enemy  on  the  way  to  Egypt,  though  it  appeared 
upon  examining  the  journals  of  the  French  officers 
taken  in  the  action,  that  the  two  fleets  must  actually 
have  crossed  on  the  night  of  the  22nd  of  June.  Dur- 
ing the  return  to  Syracuse,  the  chances  of  falling  in 
with  them  were  fewer. 

Why  Bonaparte,  having  eflfected  his  landing, 
should  not  have  suffered  the  fleet  to  return,  has  never 
yet  been  explained.     Thus  much  is  certain,  that  it 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


137 


it 


was  detained  by  his  command ;  though,  with  his  ac- 
customed falsehood,  he  accused  Admiral  Brueys, 
after  that  officer's  death,  of  having  lingered  on  the 
coast,  contrary  to  orders.  The  French  fleet  arrived 
at  Alexandria  on  the  Ist  of  July ;  and  Brueys,  not 
being  able  to  enter  the  port,  which  time  and  neglect 
had  ruined,  moored  his  ships  in  Aboukir  Bay,  in  a 
strong  and  compact  line  of  battle ;  the  headmost 
vessel,  according  to  his  own  account,  being  as  close 
as  possible  to  a  shoal  on  the  N,  W.,  and  the  rest  of 
the  fleet  forming  a  kind  of  curve  along  the  line  of 
deep  water,  so  as  not  to  be  turned  by  any  means  in 
the  S.  W.  By  Bonaparte's  desire  he  had  offered  a 
reward  of  10,000  livres  to  any  pilot  of  the  country 
who  would  carry  the  squadron  in ;  but  none  could 
be  found  who  would  venture  to  take  charge  of  a 
single  vessel  drawing  more  than  twenty  feet.  He 
had,  therefore,  made  the  best  of  his  situation,  and 
chosen  the  strongest  position  which  he  could  pos- 
sibly take  in  the  open  road.  The  commissary  of  the 
fleet  said,  they  were  moored  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
bid  defiance  to  a  force  more  than  double  their  own. 
This  presumption  could  not  then  be  thought  un- 
reasonable. Admiral  Barrington,  when  moored  in 
a  similar  manner  oflf  St.  Lucia,  in  the  year  1778, 
beat  off  the  Comte  d'Estaign  in  three  several  attacks, 
though  his  force  was  inferior  by  almost  one-third  to. 
that  which  assailed  it.  Here,  the  advantage  of 
numbers,  both  in  ships,  guns,  and  men,  was  in 
favor  of  the  French.  They  had  thirteen  ships  of 
the  line  and  four  frigates,  carrying  1,196  guns  and 
11,230  men.  The  English  had  the  same  number  of 
ships  of  the  line,  and  one  fifty-gun  ship,  carrying 
1,012  guns,  and  8,068.  The  English  ships  were  all 
seventy-fours :  the  French  had  three  eighty-gun 
ships  and  one  three-decker  of  one  hundi-ed  and 
twenty. 


/ 


138 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


«^ 


1 1 


During  the  whole  pursuit  it  had  been  Nelson's 
practice,  whenever  circumstances  would  permit,  to 
have  his  captains  on  board  the  Vanguard,  and  ex- 
plain to  them  his  own  ideas  of  the  different  and  best 
modes  of  attack,  and  such  plans  as  he  proposed  to 
execute,  on  falling  in  with  the  enemy,  whatever 
their  situation  might  be.  There  is  no  possible  posi- 
tion, it  is  said,  which  he  did  not  take  into  calcula- 
tion. His  officers  were  thus  fully  acquainted  with 
his  principles  of  tactics :  and  such  was  his  con- 
fidence in  their  abilities,  that  the  only  thing  deter- 
mined upon,  in  case  they  should  find  the  French  at 
anchor,  was  for  the  ships  to  form  as  most  convenient 
for  their  mutual  support,  and  to  anchor  by  the  stern. 
"  First  gain  the  victory,"  he  said,  "  and  then  make 
the  best  use  of  it  you  can."  The  moment  he  per- 
ceived the  position  of  the  French,  that  intuitive 
genius  with  which  Nelson  was  endowed,  displayed 
itself ;  and  it  instantly  struck  him,  that  where  there 
was  room  for  an  enemy's  ship  to  swing,  there  was 
room  for  one  of  ours  to  anchor.  The  plan  which  he 
intended  to  pursue,  therefore,  was  to  keep  entirely 
on  the  outer  side  of  the  French  line,  and  station  his 
ships,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  one  on  the  outer  bow, 
and  another  on  the  outer  quarter,  of  each  of  the 
enemy's.  This  plan  of  doubling  on  the  enemy's 
ships  was  projected  by  Lord  Hood,  when  he  designed 
to  attack  the  French  fleet  at  their  anchorage  in 
Gourjean  road.  Lord  Hood  found  it  impossible  to 
make  the  attempt;  but  the  thought  was  not  lost 
upon  Nelson,  who  acknowledged  himself  on  this  oc- 
casion, indebted  for  it  to  his  old  and  excellent  com- 
mander. Captain  Berry,  when  he  comprehended 
the  scope  of  the  design,  exclaimed  with  transport, 
"  If  we  succeed  what  will  the  world  say  !  " — "  There 
is  no  if  in  the  case,"  replied  the  admiral :  "  that  we 
shall  succeed  is  certain :  who  may  live  to  tell  the 
story,  is  a  very  different  question." 


..  ..  ^ 


•  «r- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


ISA 


Ab  the  squadron  advanced,  they  were  assailed  by 
a  shower  of  shot  and  shells  from  the  batteries  on 
the  island,  and  the  enemy  opened  a  steady  fire  from 
the  starboard  side  of  their  whole  line,  within  half 
gun-shot  distance,  full  into  the  bows  of  our  van 
ships.  It  was  received  in  silence :  the  men  on 
board  every  ship  were  employed  aloft  in  furling 
sails,  end  below  in  tending  the  braces,  and  making 
ready  for  anchoring.  A  miserable  sight  for  the 
French :  who,  with  all  their  skill  and  all  their  cour- 
age, ar  1  all  their  advantages  of  numbers  and  situa- 
tion, weie  upon  that  element,  on  which,  when  the 
hour  of  trial  comes,  a  Frenchman  has  no  hope. 
Admiral  Brueys  was  a  brave  and  able  man ;  yet 
the  indelible  character  of  his  country  broke  out  in 
one  of  his  letters,  wherein  he  delivered  it  as  his  pri- 
vate opinion,  that  the  English  had  missed  him,  be- 
cause, not  being  superior  in  force,  they  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  try  their  strength  with  him. — ^The 
moment  was  now  come  in  which  he  was  to  be  unde- 
ceived. 

A  Fi'ench  brig  was  instructed  to  decoy  the  Eng- 
lish, by  manoeuvring  so  as  to  tempt  them  toward  a 
shoal  lying  off  the  island  of  Bekier;  but  Nelson 
either  knew  the  danger,  or  suspected  some  deceit ; 
and  the  lure  was  unsuccessful.  Captain  Foley  led 
the  way  in  the  Goliath,  outsailing  the  Zealous,  which 
for  some  minutes  disputed  this  post  of  honor  with 
him.  He  had  long  conceived  that  if  the  enemy 
were  moored  in  line  of  battle  in  with  the  land,  the 
best  plan  of  attack  would  be  to  lead  between  them 
and  the  shore,  because  the  French  guns  on  that 
side  were  not  likely  to  be  manned,  nor  even  ready 
for  action.  Intending,  therefore,  to  fix  himself  on 
the  inner  bow  of  the  Guerrier,  he  kept  as  near  the 
edge  of  the  bank  as  the  depth  of  water  would  ad- 
mit; but  his  anchor  hung,  and  having  opened  his 


140 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


i 


fire,  he  drifted  to  the  second  ship,  the  Conquerant, 
before  it  was  clear ;  then  anchored  by  the  stern,  in- 
side of  her,  and  in  ten  minutes  shot  away  her  mast. 
Hood,  in  the  Zealous,  perceiving  this,  took  the  sta- 
tion which  the  Goliath  intended  to  have  occupied, 
and  totally  disabled  the  Guerrier  in  twelve  minutes. 
The  third  ship  which  doubled  the  enemy's  van  was 
the  Orion,  Sir  J.  Saumarez ;  she  passed  to  wind- 
ward of  the  Zealous,  and  opened  her  larboard  guns 
as  long  as  they  bore  on  the  Guerrier ;  then  passing 
inside  the  Goliath,  sunk  a  frigate  which  annoyed 
her,  hauled  round  toward  the  French  line,  and  an- 
choring inside,  between  the  fifth  and  sixth  ships 
from  the  Guemer,  took  her  station  on  the  larboard 
bow  of  the  Franklin,  and  the  quarter  of  the  Peuple 
Souverain,  receiving  and  returning  the  fire  of  both. 
The  sun  was  now  nearly  down.  The  Audacious, 
Captain  Gould,  pouring  a  heavy  fire  into  the  Guer- 
rier and  the  Conquerant,  fixed  herself  on  the  lar- 
board bow  of  the  latter ;  and  when  that  ship  struck, 
passed  on  to  the  Peuple  Souverain.  The  Theseus, 
Captain  Miller,  followed,  brought  down  the  Guer- 
rier's  remaining  main  and  mizzen-masts,  then  an- 
chored inside  of  the  Spartiate,  the  third  in  the 
French  line. 

While  these  advanced  ships  doubled  the  French 
line,  the  Vanguard  was  the  first  that  anchored  on 
the  Odter  side  of  the  enemy,  within  half  pistol-shot 
of  their  third  ship,  the  Spartiate.  Nelson  had  six 
colors  fiying  in  different  parts  of  his  rigging,  lest 
they  should  be  shot  away ; — that  they  should  be 
struck,  no  British  admiral  considers  as  a  possibility. 
He  veered  half  a  cable,  and  instantly  opened  a  tre- 
mendous fire ;  under  cover  of  which  the  other  four 
ships  of  his  division,  the  Minotaur,  Bellerophon, 
Defence,  and  Majestic,  sailed  on  ahead  of  the  ad- 
miral.    In  a  few  minutes,  every  man  stationed  at 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


141 


the  first  six  guns  in  the  fore  part  of  the  Vanguard's 
deck  was  killed  or  wounded — these  guns  were  three 
times  clearer^  Captain  Lewis,  in  the  Minotaur, 
anchored  next  ahead,  and  took  off  the  fire  of  the 
Aquilon,  the  fourth  in  the  enemy's  line.  The  BcUer- 
ophon,  Captain  Darby,  passed  ahead,  and  dropped 
her  stern  anchor  on  the  starboard  bow  of  the  Orient, 
seventh  in  the  line,  Brueys'  own  ship,  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  guns,  whose  difference  of  force 
was  in  proportion  of  more  than  seven  to  three,  and 
whose  weight  of  ball,  from  the  lower  deck  alone, 
exceeded  that  from  the  whole  broadside  of  the 
Bellerophon.  Captain  Peyton,  in  the  Defence,  took 
his  station  ahead  of  the  Minotaur,  and  engaged  the 
Franklin,  the  sixth  in  the  line ;  by  which  judicious 
movement  the  British  line  remained  unbroken.  The 
Majestic,  Captain  Westcott,  got  entangled  with  the 
main  rigging  of  one  of  the  French  ships  astern  of 
the  Orient,  and  suffered  dreadfully  from  that  three- 
decker's  fire ;  but  she  swung  clear,  and  closely  en- 
gaged the  Heureux,  the  ninth  ship  on  the  starboard 
bow,  received  also  the  fire  of  the  Tonnant,  which 
was  the  eighth  in  the  line.  The  other  four  ships  of 
the  British  squadron,  having  been  detached  previ- 
ous to  the  discover V  of  the  French,  were  at  a  con- 
siderable  distance  when  the  action  began.  It  com- 
menced at  half  after  six ;  about  seven  night  closed, 
and  there  was  no  other  light  than  that  from  the  fire 
of  the  contending  fleets. 

Trowbridge,  in  the  CuUoden,  then  foremost  of  the 
remaining  ships,  was  two  leagues  astern.  He  came 
on  sounding,  as  the  others  had  done :  as  he  ad- 
vanced, the  increasing  darkness  increased  the  diffi- 
culty of  the  navigation ;  and  suddenly,  after  having 
found  eleven  fathoms  water,  before  the  lead  could 
be  hove  again,  he  was  fast  aground ;  nor  could  all 
bis  own  exertions,  joined  to  those  of  the  Leander 


.# 


142 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


and  the  Mntine  brig:,  which  came  to  his  assistancOf 
get  him  off  in  time  to  bear  a  part  in  the  action.  His 
ship,  however,  served  as  a  beacon  to  the  Alexander 
and  Swiftsure,  which  would  else,  from  the  course 
which  they  were  holding,  have  gone  considerably 
farther  on  the  reef,  and  must  inevitably  have  been 
lost.  These  shiDS  entered  the  bay,  and  took  their 
stations,  in  the  darkness,  in  a  manner  long  spoken 
of  with  admiration  by  all  who  remembered  it.  Cap- 
tain Hallowell,  in  the  Swiftsure,  as  he  was  bearing 
down,  fell  in  with  what  seemed  to  be  a  strange  sail : 
Nelson  had  directed  his  ships  to  hoist  four  lights 
horizontally  at  the  mizzen  peak,  as  soon  as  it  became 
dark ;  and  this  vessel  had  no  such  distinction.  Hal- 
lowell, however,  with  great  judgment,  ordered  his 
men  not  to  fire :  if  she  was  an  enemy,  he  said,  she 
was  in  too  disabled  a  state  to  escape ;  but,  from  her 
sails  being  loose,  and  the  way  in  which  her  head 
was,  it  was  probable  she  might  be  an  English  ship. 
It  was  the  Bellerophon,  overpowered  by  the  huge 
Orient :  her  lights  had  gone  overboard,  nearly  200 
of  her  crew  were  killed  or  wounded ;  all  her  masts 
and  cables  had  been  shot  away ;  and  she  was  drift- 
ing out  of  the  line,  towards  the  lee  side  of  the  bay. 
Her  station,  at  this  important  time,  was  occupied 
by  the  Swiftsure,  which  opened  p  steady  fire  on  the 
quarter  of  the  Franklin,  and  the  bows  of  the  French 
admiral.  At  the  same  instant.  Captain  Ball,  with 
the  Alexander,  passed  under  his  stern,  and  anchored 
within  side  on  his  larboard  quarter,  raking  him,  and 
keeping  up  a  severe  fire  of  musquetry  upon  his 
decks.  The  last  ship  which  arrived  to  complete  the 
destruction  of  the  enemy  was  the  Leander.  Captain 
Thompson,  finding  that  nothing  could  be  done  that 
night  to  get  off  the  Culloden,  advanced  with  the  in- 
tention of  anchoring  athwart-hawse  of  the  Orient. 
The  Fi'anklin  was  so  near  her  ahead,  that  there  was 


■f     ■;  ' 


t! 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


143 


not  room  for  him  to  pass  clear  of  the  two ;  he,  there- 
fore, took  his  station  athwart-hawse  of  the  latter,  in 
such  a  position  as  to  rake  both. 

The  two  first  ships  of  the  French  line  had  been 
dismasted  within  a  quarter  o;  an  hour  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action  ;  and  the  others  had  in  that 
time  suffered  so  severely,  that  victory  was  already 
certain.  The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth,  were  taken 
possession  of  at  half-past  eight. 

Meantime,  Nelson  received  a  severe  wound  on  the 
head  from  a  piece  of  langridge  shot.  Captain 
Berry  caught  him  in  his  arms  as  he  was  falling. 
The  great  effusion  of  blood  occasioned  an  apprehen- 
sion that  the  wound  was  mortal :  Nelson  himself 
thought  so :  a  large  flap  of  the  skin  of  the  forehead, 
cut  from  the  bone,  had  fallen  over  one  eye :  and  the 
other  being  blind  he  was  in  total  darkness.  When 
he  was  carrieid  down,  the  surgeon, — in  the  midst  of 
a  scene  scarcely  to  be  conceived  by  those  who  have 
never  seen  a  cock-pit  in  time  of  action,  and  the 
heroism  which  is  displayed  amid  its  horrors, — with 
a  natural  and  pardonable  eagerness,  quitted  the  poor 
fellow  then  under  his  hands,  that  he  might  in- 
stantly attend  the  admiral.  "  No !  "  said  Nelson, 
*'  I  will  take  my  turn  with  my  brave  fellows."  Nor 
would  he  suffer  his  own  wound  to  be  examined  till 
every  man  who  had  been  previously  wounded  was 
properly  attended  to.  Fully  believing  that  the 
wound  was  mortal,  and  that  he  was  about  to  die,  as 
he  had  ever  desired,  in  battle  and  in  victory,  he 
called  the  chaplain,  and  desired  him  to  deliver  what 
he  supposed  to  be  his  dying  remembrance  to  Lady 
Nelson :  he  then  sent  for  Captain  Louis  on  board 
from  the  Minotaur,  that  he  might  thank  him  per- 
sonally for  the  great  assistance  which  he  had  ren- 
dered to  the  Vanguard ;  and,  ever  mindful  of  those 
^ho  deserved  to  be  his  friends,  appointed  Captain 


t! 


,\< 


144 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


Hardy  from  the  brig  to  the  command  of  his  own 
ship,  Captain  Berry  having  to  go  home  with  the 
news  of  the  victory.  When  the  surgeon  came  in  due 
time  to  examine  his  wound  (for  it  was  in  vain  to 
entreat  him  to  let  it  be  examined  sooner)  the  most, 
anxious  silence  prevailed ;  and  the  joy  of  the 
wounded  men,  and  of  the  whole  crew,  when  they 
heard  that  the  hurt  was  merely  superficial,  gave 
Nelson  deeper  pleasure,  than  the  unexpected  assur- 
ance that  his  life  was  in  no  danger.  The  surgeon  re- 
quested, and  as  far  as  he  could,  ordered  him  to  re- 
main quiet :  but  Nelson  could  not  rest.  He  called 
for  his  secretary  Mr.  Campbell,  to  write  the  des- 
patches. Campbell  had  himself  been  wounded ;  and 
was  so  affected  at  the  blind  and  suffering  state  of  the 
admiral,  that  he  was  unable  to  write.  The  chaplain 
was  then  sent  for ;  but,  before  he  came,  Nelson, 
with  his  characteristic  eagerness,  took  the  pen,  and 
contrived  to  trace  a  few  words,  marking  his  devout 
sense  of  the  success  which  had  already  been  obtained. 
He  was  now  left  alone ;  when  suddenly  a  cry  was 
heard  on  the  deck,  that  the  Orient  was  on  fire.  In 
the  confusion,  he  found  his  way  up,  unassisted  and 
unnoticed ;  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  every  one, 
appeared  on  the  quarter-deck,  where  he  immediately 
gave  orders  that  boats  should  be  sent  to  the  relief 
of  the  enemy. 

It  was  soon  after  nine  that  the  fire  on  board  the 
Orient  broke  out.  Brueys  was  dead:  he  had  re- 
ceived three  wounds,  yet  he  would  not  leave  his  post : 
a  fourth  cut  him  almost  in  two.  He  desired  not  to 
be  carried  below,  but  to  be  left  to  die  upon  the  deck. 
The  flames  sood  mastered  his  ship.  Her  sides  had 
just  been  painted ;  and  the  oil-jars  and  paint-buckets 
were  lying  on  the  poop.  By  the  prodigious  light  of 
this  conflagration,  the  situation  of  the  two  fleets 
could  now  be  perceived,  the  colors  of  both  being 


«  ^W' >  i«v  «iti##fci ,  K9V  •  *  a-fiiM  >-i4 1.  T*f«  M 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


141 


ng 


clearly  distinguishable.  About  ten  o'clock  the  ship 
blew  up,  with  a  shock  which  was  felt  to  the  very 
bottom  of  every  vessel.  Many  of  her  officers  and 
men  jumped  overboard,  some  clinging  to  the  spars 
and  pieces  of  wreck,  with  which  the  sea  was  strewn, 
others  swimming  to  escape  from  the  destruction 
which  they  momentarily  dreaded.  Some  were  picked 
up  by  our  boats  ;  and  some  even  in  the  heat  and  fury 
of  the  action,  were  dragged  into  the  lower  ports  of 
the  nearest  British  vessel  by  the  British  sailors. 
The  greater  part  of  her  crew,  however,  stood  the 
danger  till  the  last,  and  continued  to  fire  from  the 
lower  deck.  This  tremendous  explosion  was  followed 
by  a  silence  not  less  awful :  the  firing  immediately 
ceased  on  both  sides ;  and  the  first  sound  which 
broke  the  silence,  was  the  dash  of  her  shattered 
masts  and  yards,  falling  into  the  water  from  the  vast 
height  to  which  they  had  been  exploded.  It  is 
upon  record,  that  a  battle  between  two  armies  was 
once  broken  off  by  an  earthquake : — such  an  event 
would  be  felt  like  a  miracle  ;  but  no  incident  in  war, 
produced  by  human  means,  has  ever  equalled  the 
sublimity  of  this  co-instantaneous  pause,  and  all  its 
circumst-nu  'S. 

Alt  ,t  seventy  of  the  Orient's  crew  were  saved  by 
the  Knglish  boats.  Among  the  many  hundreds  who 
perished,  were  the  commodore,  Casa-Bianca,  and 
his  son,  a  brave  boy,  only  ten  years  old.  They  were 
seen  floating  on  a  shattered  mast  when  the  ship  blew 
up.  She  had  money  on  board  (the  plunder  of  Malta) 
to  the  amount  of  £600,000  sterling.  The  masses  of 
burning  wreck,  which  were  scattered  by  the  explosion, 
excited  for  some  moments  apprehensions  in  the 
English  which  they  had  never  felt  from  any  other 
danger.  Two  large  pieces  fell  into  the  main  and 
fore  tops  of  the  Swiftsure,  without  injuring  any  per- 
son. A  port  fii'e  also  fell  into  the  main-royal  of  the 
10 


146 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


M 
ii 

.  1i 
■ «; 


Alexander :  the  fire  which  it  occasioned  was  speed- 
ily extinguished.  Captain  Ball  had  provided  as  far 
as  human  foresight  could  provide,  against  any  such 
danger.  All  the  shrouds  and  sails  of  his  ship,  not 
absolutely  necessary  for  its  immediate  management, 
were  thoroughly  wetted,  and  so  rolled  up,  that  they 
were  as  hard  and  as  little  inflammable  as  so  many 
solid  cylinders. 

The  firing  recommenced  with  the  ships  to  leeward 
of  the  centre,  and  continued  till  about  three.  At 
day-break,  the  Guillaume  Tell,  and  the  Genereux, 
the  two  rear  ships  of  the  enemy,  were  the  only 
Fi'ench  ships  of  the  line  which  had  their  colors 
flying ;  they  cut  their  cables  in  the  forenoon,  not 
having  been  engaged,  and  stood  out  to  sea,  and  two 
frigates  with  them.  The  Zealous  pursued  ;  but  as 
there  was  no  other  ship  in  a  condition  to  support 
Captain  Hood,  he  was  recalled.  It  was  generally 
believed  by  the  officers,  that  if  Nelson  had  not  been 
wounded,  not  one  of  these  ships  could  have  escaped : 
the  four  certainly  could  not,  if  the  CuUoden  had  got 
into  action :  and  if  the  frigates  belonging  to  the 
squadron  had  been  present,  not  one  of  the  enemy's 
fleet  would  have  left  Aboukir  Bay.  These  four 
vessels,  however,  were  all  that  escaped ;  and  the 
victory  was  the  most  complete  and  glorious  in  the 
annals  of  naval  history.  '*  Victory,"  said  Nelson,  "is 
not  a  name  strong  enough  for  such  a  scene ;  '*  he 
called  it  a  conquest.  Of  thirteen  sail  of  the  line, 
nine  were  taken,  and  two  burnt :  of  the  four  frigates, 
one  was  sunk,  another,  the  Artemise,  was  burnt  in  a 
villainous  manner  by  her  captain,  M.  JEstandlet,  who, 
having  fired  a  broadside  at  the  Theseus,  struck  his 
colors,  then  set  fire  to  the  ship,  and  escaped  with 
most  of  his  crew  to  shore.  Th  ^  British  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded,  amounted  to  895.  Westcott  was  the 
only  captain  who  fell ;  3,105  of  the  French,  including 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


147 


led 
the 
ing 


the  wounded  were  sent  on  shore  by  cartel,  and  5,225 
perished. 

As  soon  as  the  conquest  was  completed,  Nelson 
sent  orders  through  the  fleet,  to  return  tJianksgiving 
in  every  ship  for  the  victory  with  which  Almighty 
God  had  blessed  his  Majesty's  arms.  The  French 
at  Rosetta,  who  with  miserable  fear  beheld  the  en- 
gagement, were  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  stillness 
of  the  fleet  during  the  performance  of  this  solemn 
duty ;  but  it  seemed  to  affect  many  of  the  prisoners, 
officers  as  well  as  men  :  and  graceless  and  godless  as 
the  officers  were,  some  of  them  remarked,  that  it 
was  no  wonder  such  order  was  preserved  in  the 
British  navy,  when  the  minds  of  our  men  could  be 
impressed  with  such  sentiments  after  so  great  a 
victory,  and  at  a  moment  of  such  confusion. — The 
French  at  Rosetta  seeing  their  four  ships  sail  out  of 
the  bay  unmolested,  endeavored  to  persuade  them- 
selves that  they  were  in  possession  of  the  place  of 
battle.  But  it  was  in  vain  thus  to  attempt,  against 
their  own  secret  and  certain  conviction,  to  deceive 
themselves :  and  even  if  they  could  have  succeeded 
in  this,  the  bonfires  which  the  Arabs  kindled  along 
the  whole  coast,  and  over  the  country,  for  the  three 
following  nights,  would  soon  have  undeceived  them. 
Thousands  of  Ai'abs  and  Egyptians  lined  the  shore, 
and  covered  the  housetops  during  the  action,  rejoic- 
ing in  the  destruction  which  had  overtaken  their  in- 
vaders. Long  after  the  battle,  innumerable  bodies 
were  seen  floating  about  the  bay,  in  spite  of  all  the 
exertions  which  were  made  to  sink  them,  as  well  from 
fear  of  pestilence,  as  from  the  loathing  and  horror 
which  the  sight  occasioned.  The  shore,  for  an  extent 
of  four  leagues  was  covered  with  wreck ;  and  the 
Arabs  found  employment  for  many  days  in  burning 
on  the  beach  the  fragments  which  were  cast  up,  for 
the  sake  of  the  iron.   Part  of  the  Orient's  main-mast 


i<!   I 


V 


•l    . 
Il    ■ 

'  u  > 

'II ! 


Pi     <i 


jJli 
.   hi 


I 


;•  \ 


148 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


was  picked  up  by  the  Swiftsure.  Captain  Hallowell 
ordered  his  carpenters  to  make  a  coffin  of  it ;  the 
iron  as  well  as  wood  was  taken  from  the  wreck  of  the 
same  ship :  it  was  finished  as  well  and  handsomely 
as  the  workmen's  skill  and  materials  would  permit ; 
and  Hallowell  then  sent  it  to  the  admiral  with  the 
following  letter. — "  Sir,  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
presenting  you  a  coffin  made  from  the  mainmast  of 
L'Orient,  that  when  you  have  finished  your  military 
career  in  this  world,  you  may  be  buried  in  one  of 
your  trophies.  But  that  that  period  may  be  far 
distant  is  the  earnest  wish  of  your  sincere  friend, 
Benjamin  Hallowell." — An  offering  so  strange,  and 
yet  so  suited  to  the  occasion,  was  received  by  Nelson 
in  the  spirit  with  which  it  was  sent.  As  if  he  felt 
it  good  for  him,  now  that  he  was  at  the  summit  of 
his  wishes,  to  have  death  before  his  eyes,  he  ordered 
the  coffin  to  be  placed  upright  in  his  cabin.  Such  a 
piece  of  furniture,  however,  was  more  suitable  to  his 
own  feelings  than  to  those  of  his  guests  and  attend- 
ants ;  and  an  old  favorite  servant  entreated  him  so 
earnestly  to  let  it  be  removed,  that  at  length  he  con- 
sented to  have  the  coffin  carried  below :  but  he  gave 
strict  orders  that  it  should  be  safely  stowed,  and  re- 
served for  the  purpose  for  which  its  brave  and  worthy 
donor  had  designed  it. 

The  victory  was  complete ;  but  Nelson  could  not 
pursue  it  as  he  would  have  done,  for  want  of  means. 
Had  he  been  provided  with  small  craft,  nothing  could 
have  prevented  the  destruction  of  the  store-ships 
and  transports  in  the  port  of  Alexandria: — four 
bomb-vessels  would  at  that  time  have  burnt  the 
whole  in  a  few  hours.  "  Were  I  to  die  this  moment," 
said  he,  in  his  despatches  to  the  admiralty,  "  want 
of  frigates  would  be  found  stamped  on  my  heart! 
No  words  of  mine  can  express  what  I  have  suffered, 
and  am  suffering  for  want  of  them."    He  had  also 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


149 


)ur 


>» 


Irt! 


Llso 


to  bear  up  against  great  bodily  suffering ;  the  blow 
had  so  shaken  his  head,  that  from  its  constant  and 
violent  aching,  and  the  perpetual  sickness  which 
accompanied  the  pain,  he  could  scarcely  persuade 
himself  that  the  skull  was  not  fractured.  Had  it 
not  been  for  Trowbridge,  Ball,  Hood,  and  Hallo  well, 
he  declared  that  he  should  have  sunk  under  the 
fatigue  of  refitting  the  squadron.  "  All,"  he  said, 
"had  done  well;  but  these  officers  were  his  sup- 
porters." But,  amidst  his  sufferings  and  exertions. 
Nelson  could  yet  think  of  all  the  consequences  of 
his  victory ;  and  that  no  advantage  from  it  might  be 
lost  he  despatched  an  oflScer  over  land  to  India,  with 
letters  to  the  governor  of  Bombay,  informing  him 
of  the  an-ival  of  the  French  in  Egypt,  the  total  des- 
tiTiction  of  their  fleet,  and  the  consequent  preserva- 
tion of  India  from  any  attempt  against  it  on  the 
part  of  this  formidable  armament.  "  He  knew  that 
Bombay,"  he  said,  "was  their  first  object,  if  they 
could  get  there  ;  but  he  trusted  that  Almighty  God 
would  overthrow  in  Egypt  these  pests  of  the  human 
race.  Bonaparte  had  never  yet  had  to  contend  with 
an  English  officer,  and  he  would  endeavor  to  make 
him  respect  us."  This  despatch  he  sent  upon  his 
own  responsibilty,  with  letters  of  credit  upon  the 
East  India  Company,  addressed  to  the  British  con- 
suls, vice-consuls,  and  mei'chants,  on  his  route; 
Nelson  saying,  "that  if  he  had  done  wrong,  he 
hoped  the  bills  would  be  paid,  and  he  would  repay 
the  company ;  for  as  an  Englishman,  he  should  be 
proud  that  it  had  been  in  his  power  to  put  our  set- 
tlements on  their  guard."  The  information  which  by 
this  means  reached  India  was  of  great  importance. 
Orders  had  just  been  received  for  defensive  prepara- 
tions, upon  a  scale  proportionate  to  the  apprehended 
danger ;  and  the  extraordinary  expenses  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  incurred,  were  thus  prevented. 


If  nil 


m 


'  / 


'im\ 


160 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


Nelson  was  now  at  the  summit  of  glory :  congrat- 
ulationg,  rewards,  and  honors,  were  showered  upon 
him  by  all  the  states,  and  princes  and  powers,  to 
whom  his  victory  gave  a  respite.  The  first  commu- 
ni'^ation  of  this  i  ature  which  he  received  was  from 
thi  Turkish  Sultan :  who,  as  soon  as  the  invasion  of 
Egypt  was  known,  had  called  upon  *'  all  true  believ- 
ers to  take  arms  against  those  swinish  infidels,  the 
FreiA'h,  that  they  might  deliver  these  blessed  habi- 
tations from  their  accursed  hands ) "  and  who  had 
ordered  his  '*  pachas  to  turn  night  into  day  in  their 
efforts  to  take  vengeance."  The  i^resent  of  "  his 
imperial  majesty,  the  powerful,  fo;*midable,  and 
most  magnificent  Grand  Seignior,"*  was  a  pelisse  of 
sables,  with  broad  sleeves,  valued  at  five  thousand 
dollars  ;  and  a  diamond  aigrette,  valued  at  eighteen 
thousand — the  most  honorable  badge  among  the 
Turks ;  and  in  this  instance  more  especially  honor- 
able, because  it  was  taken  from  one  of  the  royal 
turbans.  "  If  it  were  worth  a  million,"  said  Nelson 
to  his  wife,  "  my  pleasure  would  be  to  see  it  in  your 
possession."  The  sultan  also  sent,  in  a  spirit  wor- 
thy of  imitation,  a  purse  of  two  thousand  sequins, 
to  be  distributed  among  the  wounded.  The  mother 
of  the  sultan  sent  him  a  box,  set  with  diamonds, 
valued  at  one  thousand  pounds.  The  Czar  Paul,  in 
whom  the  better  part  of  his  strangely  compounded 
nature  at  this  time  predominated,  presented  him 
with  his  portrait,  set  in  diamonds,  in  a  gold  box,  ac- 
companied with  a  letter  of  congratulation,  written 
by  his  own  hand.  The  King  of  Sardinia  also  wrote 
to  him,  and  sent  a  gold  box,  set  with  diamonds. 
Honors  in  profusion  were  awaiting  him  at  Naples. 
In  his  own  country  the  king  granted  these  honorable 
augmentations  to  his  armorial  ensign :  a  chief  un- 
dulated, argent ;  thereon  waves  of  the  sea ;  from 
which  a  palm  tree  issuant,  between  a  disabled  ship 


THE  LIFE  OP  TinEaiiaON. 


151 


on  the  dexter,  and  a  ruinous  battery  on  the  sinister, 
all  proper ;  and  for  his  crest,  on  a  naval  crown  or, 
the  chelengk,  or  plume,  presented  to  him  by  the 
Turk,  with  the  motto,  Palmam  qui  meruit  ferat,* 
And  to  his  supporters,  being  a  sailor  on  the  dexter j 
and  a  lion  on  the  sinister,  were  given  these  honor- 
able augmentations:  a  palm-branch  in  the  sailor's 
hand,  and  another  in  the  paw  of  the  lion,  both 
proper  ;  with  a  tri-colored  flag  and  staff  in  the  lion*8 
mouth.  He  was  created  Baron  Nelson  of  the  Nile 
and  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  with  a  pension  of  £2,000 
for  his  own  life,  and  those  of  his  two  immediate 
successors.  When  the  grant  was  moved  m  the 
House  of  Commons,  General  Walpole  expressed  an 
opinion,  that  a  higher  degree  of  rank  ought  to  be 
conferred.  Mr.  Pitt  made  answer,  that  he  thought 
it  needless  to  enter  into  that  question.  "Admiral 
Nelson's  fame,"  he  said,  "  would  be  co-equal  with 
the  British  name  :  and  it  would  be  remembered  that 
he  had  obtained  the  greatest  naval  victory  on  record, 
when  no  man  would  think  of  asking  whether  he  had 
been  created  a  baron,  a  viscount,  or  an  earl ! "  It 
was  strange  that^  in  the  very  act  of  conferring  a 
title,  the  mi!)ister  should  have  excused  himself  for 
not  having  conferred  a  higher  one,  by  representing 
all  titles,  on  such  an  occasion,  as  nugatory  and  super-^ 
fluous.  True,  indeed,  whatever  title  had  been  be- 
stowed, whether  viscount,  earl,  marquis,  duke,  or 
prince,  if  our  laws  had  so  permitted,  he  who  re- 
ceived it  would  have  been  Nelaon  still.    That  name 

*  It  has  been  arroneously  said  that  the  motto  was  selected 
by  the  king: — it  was  fixed  on  by  Lord  Grenville,  and  taken 
from  an  ode  of  Jortiu's.  The  application  was  singularly 
fortunate;  and  the  ode  itself  breathes  a  spirit,  in  which  no 
man  ever  more  truly  sympathised  than  Nelson:— 

Con  currant  paribus  cum  ratibus  rates, 
Spectent  numina  ponti,  et 
Palmam  qui  meruit  ferat. 


^ip  Kf  »«•»«-..-,■►>,  f.*^<>  . 


?il, 


m 
ill 


m 


'.■'.  << 


II 


,.A  1 


152 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


he  had  ennobled  bey  on  r^  all  addition  of  nobility ;  it 
was  the  name  by  which  ji^ngland  loved  him,  France 
feared  him,  Italy,  Egypt,  and  Turkey  celebrated 
him ;  and  by  which  he  will  continue  to  be  known 
while  the  present  kingdoms  and  languages  of  the 
world  endure,  and  as  long  as  their  history  after 
them  shall  be  held  in  remembrance.  It  depended 
upon  the  degree  of  rank  what  should  be  the  fashion 
of  his  coronet,  in  what  page  of  the  red  book  his 
name  was  to  be  inserted,  and  what  precedency  should 
be  allowed  his  lady  in  the  drawing-room  and  at  the 
ball.  That  Nelson's  honors  were  affected  thus  far, 
and  no  farther,  might  be  conceded  to  Mr.  Pitt  and 
his  colleagues  in  administration :  but  the  degree  of 
rank  which  they  thought  proper  to  allot  was  the 
measure  of  their  gratitude,  though  not  of  nis  ser- 
vices.* This  Nelson  felt ;  and  this  he  expressed, 
with  indignation,  among  bis  friends. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  motives  of  the  min- 
istry, and  whatever  the  formalities  with  which  they 
excused  their  conduct  to  themselves,  the  importance 
and  magnitude  of  the  victory  were  universally  ac- 
knowledged.    A  gi'ant  of    £10,000  was   voted  to 

*  Mr.  Wyndhani  must  be  excepted  from  this  well-deserved 
censure.  He,  whose  fate  it  seems  to  have  been  almost 
always  to  think  and  feel  more  generously  than  those  with 
whom  he  acted,  declared,  when  he  contended  against  his 
own  party  for  Lord  Wellington's  peerage,  that  he  always 
thought  Lord  Nelson  had  been  inadequately  rewarded.  The 
case  was  the  more  flagrant,  because  an  earldom  had  so  lately 
been  granted  for  the  battle  of  St.  Vincent ;  an  action  which 
could  never  be  compared  with  the  battle  of  the  Nile,  if  the 
very  different  manner  in  which  it  was  rewarded  did  not 
necessarily  force  a  comparison;  especially  when  the  part 
that  Nelson  bore  in  it  was  considered. — Lords  Duncan  and 
St.  Vincent  had  each  a  pension  of  £1,000  from  the  Irish 
government.  This  was  not  granted  to  Nelson,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  Union;  though,  surely,  it  would  be  more  be- 
coming to  increase  the  British  grant,  than  to  save  a  tbousaind 
a-year  by  the  Union  in  such  cases. 


] 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSOK. 


158 


Nelson  by  the  Eaot  India  Compr  ny ;  the  Turkish 
Company  presented  him  with  a  piece  of  plate ;  the 
city  of  London  presented  a  sword  to  him,  and  to 
each  of  his  captains ;  gold  medals  were  distributed 
to  the  captain^  •■  and  the  first  lieutenants  of  all  the 
ships  were  promoted,  as  had  been  done  after  Lord 
Howe's  victory.  Nelson  was  exceedingly  anxious 
that  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant  of  the  CuUoden 
should  not  be  passed  over  because  of  their  misfor- 
tune. To  Trowbridge  himself  he  said,  "•  Let  us  re- 
joice that  the  ship  which  got  on  shore  was  com- 
manded by  an  oflScer  whose  character  is  so  thoroughly 
established."  To  the  admiralty  he  stated,  that  Cap- 
tain Trowbridge's  conduct  was  as  fully  entitled  to 
praise  as  that  of  any  one  oflScer  in  the  squadron, 
and  as  highly  deserving  of  reward.  "  It  was  Trow- 
bridge," said  he,  "  who  equipped  the  squadron  so 
soon  at  Syracuse ;  it  was  Trowbridge  who  exerted 
himself  for  me  after  the  action :  it  was  Trowbridge 
who  saved  the  CuUoden,  when  none  that  I  know  in 
the  service  would  have  attempted  it."  The  gold 
medal,  therefore,  by  the  king's  express  desire,  was 
given  to  Captain  Trowbridge,  "  for  his  services  both 
before  and  since,  and  for  the  gi'eat  and  wonderful 
exertion  which  he  made  at  the  time  of  the  action,  in 
saving  and  getting  off  his  ship."  The  private  letter 
from  the  admiralty  to  Nelson  informed  him,  that  the 
first  lieutenants  of  all  the  ships  engaged  were  to  be 
promoted.  Nelson  instantly  wrote  to  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,— "  I  sincerely  hope,"  he  said, 
"  this  is  not  intended  to  exclude  the  first  lieutenant 
of  the  Cullode.i. — For  heaven's  sake— for  my  sake 
— if  it  be  so,  g5^t  it  altered.  Our  dear  friend  Trow- 
bridge has  endured  erough.  His  sufferings  were, 
in  every  respect,  r^xove  than  any  of  us."  To  the 
admiralty  he  wrote  in  terms  equally  warm.  **I 
hope  and  believe,  the  word  engaged  is  not  intended 


.l,,vv,.„,_<.«ir  .♦.-  ■■»<»  ■f*-'-^ .»•,»-, I'm •..  i*i>"»'*  (»»  ♦»'»«'^*»/-»f!i 


\ 


154 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


\ 


ifii 


m  i 


m 


to  exclude  the  Culloden.  The  merit  of  that  ship, 
and  her  gallant  captain,  are  too  well  known  to  ben- 
efit by  anything  I  could  say.  Her  misfortune  was 
great  in  getting  aground,  while  her  more  fortunate 
companions  were  in  the  full  tide  of  happiness.  No ; 
I  am  confident  that  my  good  Lord  Spencer  will  never 
add  misery  to  misfortune.  Captain  Trowbridge  on 
shore  is  superior  to  captains  afloat :  in  the  midst  of 
his  great  misfortunes  he  made  those  signals  which 
prevented  certainly  the  Alexander  and  Swiftsure 
from  running  on  the  shoals.  I  beg  your  pardon  for 
writing  on  a  subject  which,  I  verily  believe,  has 
never  entered  your  lordf- lip's  head ;  but  my  heart, 
at.  it  ought  to  be,  is  warm  to  my  gallant  friends." 
Thus  feelingly  alive  was  Nelson  to  the  claims,  and 
interests,  and  feelings  of  others.  The  admiralty 
replied,  that  the  exception  was  necessary,  as  the 
ship  had  not  been  in  action ;  but  they  desired  the 
commander-in-chief  to  promote  the  lieutenant  upon 
the  first  vacancy  which  should  occur. 

Nelson,  in  remembrance  of  an  old  and  uninter- 
rupted friendship,  appointed  Alexander  Davison  sole 
prize-agent  for  the  captured  ships :  upon  which 
Davison  ordered  medals  to  be  struck  in  gold,  for  the 
captains ;  in  silver,  for  the  lieutenants  and  warrant 
officers ;  in  gilt  metal,  for  petty  officers ;  and  in 
copper,  for  the  seamen  and  marines.  The  cost  of 
this  act  of  liberality  amounted  nearly  to  £2,000.  It 
is  worthy  of  record  on  another  account ; — for  some 
of  the  gallant  men,  who  received  no  other  honorary 
badge  of  their  conduct  on  that  memorable  day,  than 
this  copper  medal,  from  a  private  individual,  years 
afterwards,  when  they  died  upon  a  foreign  station, 
made  it  their  last  request,  that  the  medals  might 
carefully  be  sent  home  to  their  respective  friends. — 
So  sensible  are  brave  men  of  honor,  in  whatever 
rank  they  may  be  placed. 


•<^<^ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


156 


Three  of  the  frigates,  whose  presence  would  have 
been  so  essential  a  few  weeks  sooner,  joined  the 
squadron  on  the  twelfth  day  after  the  action.  The 
fourth  joined  a  few  days  after  them.  Nelson  thus 
received  despatches,  which  rendered  it  necessary  for 
him  to  return  to  Naples.  Before  he  left  Egypt  he 
burnt  three  of  the  prizes :  they  could  not  have  been 
fitted  for  a  passage  to  Gibraltar  in  less  than  a  month, 
and  that  at  a  great  expense,  and  with  the  loss  of  the 
service  of  at  least  two  sail  of  the  line.  "  I  rest 
assured,"  he  said  to  the  admiralty,  *'  that  they  will 
be  paid  for,  and  have  held  out  that  assurance  to  the 
squadron.  For  if  an  admiral,  after  a  victory,  is  to 
look  after  the  captured  ships,  and  not  to  the  distress- 
ing of  the  enemy,  very  dearly  indeed  must  the 
nation  pay  for  the  prizes.  I  trust  that  £60,000  will 
be  deemed  a  very  moderate  sum  for  them :  and  when 
the  services,  time,  and  men,  with  the  expense  of 
fitting  the  three  ships  for  a  voyage  to  England,  are 
considered,  government  will  save  nearly  as  much  as 
they  are  valued  at. — Paying  for  prizes,"  he  con- 
tinued, "is  no  new  idea  of  mine,  and  would  often 
prove  an  amazing  saving  to  the  state,  even  without 
taking  into  calculation  what  the  nation  loses  by  the 
attention  of  the  admirals  to  the  property  of  the  cap- 
tors ;  an  attention  absolutely  necessary,  as  a  recom- 
pense for  the  exertions  of  the  oflScers  and  men.  An 
admiral  may  be  amply  rewarded  by  his  own  feelings, 
and  by  the  approbation  of  his  superiors ;  but  what 
reward  have  the  inferior  officers  and  men,  but  the 
value  of  the  prizes  ?  If  an  admiral  takes  that  from 
them  on  any  consideration,  he  cannot  expect  to  be 
well  supported."  To  Earl  St.  Vincent,  he  said,  "  If 
he  could  have  been  sure  that  government  would  have 
paid  a  reasonable  value  for  them,  he  would  have 
ordered  two  of  the  other  prizes  to  be  burned :  for 
they  would  cost  more  in  refitting,  and  by  the  loss  of 
ships  attending  them,  than  they  were  wdirth." 


'F'l 


iM 


«< 


IS  I 


If  n 


m  i 


166 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


ajl 


Having  sent  the  six  remaining  prizes  forward, 
under  Sir  James  Saumarez,  Nelson  left  Captain 
Hood,  in  the  Zealous,  oflf  Alexandria,  with  the 
Swiftsure,  Goliath,  Alcmene,  and  Emerald,  and 
stood  out  to  sea  himself  on  the  seventeenth  day 
after  the  battle. 


j    ( 


in 

lie 
id 


CHAPTER  VI. 

I^ELSON'S  health  had  sufifered  greatly  while  he 
■^^  was  in  the  Agamemnon.  "  My  complaint,"  he 
said,  "  is  as  if  a  girth  were  buckled  taut  over  my 
breast ;  and  my  endeavor  in  the  night  is  to  get  it 
loose."  After  the  battle  off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  he 
felt  a  little  rest  to  be  so  essential  to  his  recoverv, 
that  he  declared  he  would  not  continue  to  serve 
longer  than  the  ensuing  summer,  unless  it  should  be 
absolutely  necessary ;  for,  in  his  own  strong  lan- 
guage, he  had  then  been  four  years  and  nine  months 


Wi 


111 

III 

III 

ll  I 

III 


I 


II 

ill 


III '(I 
L«ii>i 
ll!»ii 

III  I 

lll^l 
II I 


i 

ll 


i; 


!! 


168 


THB  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


.( 


without  one  moment's  repose  for  body  or  mind.  A 
few  months'  intermission  of  labor  he  had  obtained — 
not  of  rest,  for  it  was  purchased  with  the  loss  of  a 
limb ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  time  had  been  a 
season  of  constant  pain.  As  soon  as  his  shattered 
frame  had  suflSciently  recovered  for  him  to  resume 
his  duties  he  was  called  to  services  of  greater  im- 
portance than  any  on  which  he  had  hitherto  been 
employed,  and  they  brought  with  them  commensurate 
fatigue  and  care. 

The  anxiety  which  he  endui  I  during  his  long 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  was  rather  changed  in  its  di- 
rection, than  abated,  by  their  defeat :  and  this  con- 
stant wakefulness  of  thought,  added  to  the  effect  of 
his  wound,  and  the  exertions  from  which  it  was  not 
possible  for  one  of  so  ardent  and  wide-reaching  a 
mind  to  spare  himself,  nearly  proved  fatal.  On  his 
way  back  to  Italy  he  was  seized  with  fever.  For 
eighteen  hours  his  life  was  despaired  of ;  and  even 
when  the  disorder  took  a  favorable  turn,  and  he 
was  so  far  recovered  as  again  to  appear  on  deck,  he 
himself  thought  that  his  end  was  approaching — 
such  was  the  weakness  to  which  the  fever  and  cough 
had  reduced  him.  Writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  on 
the  passage,  he  said  to  him,  "  I  never  expect,  my 
dear  lord,  to  see  your  face  again.  It  may  please 
God  that  this  will  be  the  finish  to  that  fever  of 
anxiety  which  I  have  endured  from  the  middle  of 
June :  but  be  that  as  it  pleases  His  goodness.  I  am 
resigned  to  His  will." 

The  kindest  attentions  of  the  warmest  friendship 
were  awaiting  him  at  Naples.  *'  Come  here,"  said 
Sir  William  Hamilton,  ''  for  God's  sake,  my  dear 
friend,  as  soon  as  the  service  will  permit  you.  A 
pleasant  apartment  is  ready  for  you  in  my  house, 
and  Emma  is  looking  out  for  the  softest  pillows,  to 
repose  the  few  wearied  limbs  you  have  left."  Happy 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


would  it  have  been  for  Nelson  if  warm  and  careful 
friendship  had  been  all  that  awaited  him  there  ! 
He  himself  saw  at  that  time  the  character  of  the 
Neapolitan  court,  as  it  first  struck  an  Englishman, 
in  its  true  light :  and  when  he  was  on  the  way,  he 
declared  that  he  detested  the  voyage  to  Naples,  and 
that  nothing  but  necessity  could  have  forced  him  to 
it.  But  never  was  any  hero,  on  his  return  from  vic- 
tory, welcomed  with  more  heartfelt  joy.  Before  the 
battle  of  Aboukir  the  court  of  Naples  had  been 
trembling  for  its  existence.  The  language  w^ich 
the  directory  held  towards  it  was  well  described  by 
Sir  William  Hamilton,  as  being  exactly  the  language 
of  a  highwayman.  The  Neapolitans  were  told,  that 
Benevento  might  be  added  to  their  d  minior  i,  pro- 
vided they  would  pay  a  large  sum,  suffl*  ient  to 
satisfy  the  directory;  and  they  were  war  ed,  that 
if  the  proposal  were  refnsed,  or  ever  if  there  weio 
any  delay  in  accepting  it,  the  Frenci  would  revolu- 
tionise all  Italy.  The  joy,  therefore,  of  the  court  at 
Nelson's  success,  was  in  proportion  to  the  dismay 
from  which  that  success  relieved  them.  The  queen 
was  a  daughter  of  Maria  Theresa,  and  sistei  of 
Marie  Antoinette.  Had  she  been  the  wisest  and 
gentlest  of  her  sex,  it  would  not  have  been  possible 
for  her  to  have  regarded  the  French  without  hatred 
and  horror:  and  the  progress  of  revolutionary 
opinions,  while  it  perpetually  reminded  her  of  her 
sister's  fate,  excited  no  ur  o^sonable  apprehensions 
for  her  own.  Her  feelingj,  naturally  ardent,  and 
little  accustomed  to  restraint,  were  excited  to  the 
highest  pitch  when  the  news  of  the  victory  arrived. 
Lady  Hamilton,  her  constant  friend  and  favorite, 
who  was  present,  says,  "It  is  not  possible  to  de- 
scribe her  transports  :  she  wept,  she  kissed  her  hus- 
band, her  children,  walked  franticly  about  the  room, 
burst  into  tears  again,  and  again  kissed  and  era- 


Mi. 


I!    :/ 


\; 


160 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


braced  every  person  near  her :  exclaiming,  '  O 
brave  Nelson  !  O  God  !  bless  and  protect  our  brave 
deliverer !  O  Nelson !  Nelson !  what  do  we  not 
owe  you !  O  conqueror — savior  of  Italy !  O  that 
my  swoln  heart  could  now  tell  him  personally  what 
we  owe  to  him.'  "  She  herself  wrote  to  the  Neapolitan 
ambassador  at  London  upon  the  occasion,  in  terms 
which  show  the  fulness  of  her  joy,  and  the  height  of 
the  hopes  which  it  had  excited.  "  I  wish  I  could 
give  wings,"  said  she,  "  to  the  bearer  of  the  news, 
and  at  the  same  time,  to  our  most  sincere  gratitude. 
The  whole  of  the  sea-coast  of  Italy  is  saved ;  and 
this  is  owing  alone  to  the  generous  English.  This 
battle,  or  to  speak  more  correctly,  this  total  defeat 
of  the  regicide  squadron,  was  obtained  by  the  valor 
of  this  brave  admiral,  seconded  by  a  navy  which  is 
the  terror  of  Hs  enemies.  The  victory  is  so  com- 
plete, that  I  can  still  scarcely  believe  it :  and  if  it 
were  not  the  brave  English  nation,  which  is  accus- 
tomed to  perform  prodigies  by  sea,  I  could  not  per- 
suade myself  that  it  had  happened.  It  would  have 
moved  you  to  have  seen  all  my  childi*en,  boys  and 
girls,  hanging  on  my  neck  and  crying  for  joy  at  the 
happy  news. — Recommend  the  hero  to  his  master : 
he  has  filled  the  whole  of  Italy  with  admiration  of  the 
English.  Great  hopes  were  entertained  of  some 
advantages  being  gained  by  his  bravery,  but  no  one 
could  look  for  so  total  a  destruction.  AH  here  are 
drunk  with  joy." 

Such  being  the  feelings  of  the  royal  family,  it 
may  well  be  supposed  with  what  delight,  and  with 
what  honors.  Nelson  would  be  welcomed.  Early  on 
the  22d  of  September,  the  poor  wretched  Vanguard, 
as  he  called  his  shattered  vessel,  appeared  in  sight 
of  Naples.  The  CuUoden  and  Alexander  had  pre- 
ceded her  by  some  days,  and  given  notice  of  her 
approach.     Many  hundred  boats  and  barges  were 


I 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


161 


ready  to  go  forth  and  meet  him,  with  music  and 
streamers,  and  every  demonstration  of  joy  and 
triumph.  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton  led  the 
way  in  their  state  barge.  They  had  seen  Nelson 
only  for  a  few  days  four  years  ago,  but  they  then 
perceived  in  him  that  heroic  spirit  which  was  now 
so  fully  and  gloriously  manifested  to  the  world. 
Emma  Lady  Hamilton,  who  from  this  time  so 
greatly  influenced  his  future  life,  was  a  woman 
whose  personal  accomplishments  have  seldom  been 
equalled,  and  whose  powers  of  mind  were  not  less 
fascinating  than  her  person.  She  was  passionately 
attached  to  the  queen ;  and  by  her  influence  the 
British  fleet  had  obtained  those  supplies  at  Syracuse, 
without  which,  Nelson  always  asserted,  the  battle 
of  Aboukir  could  not  have  been  fought.  During 
the  long  interval  which  passed  before  any  tidings 
were  received,  her  anxiety  had  been  hardly  less  than 
that  of  Nelson  himself,  while  pursuing  an  enemy  of 
whom  he  could  obtain  no  information:  and  when 
the  tidings  were  brought  her  by  a  joyful  bearer 
open-mouthed,  its  eflfect  was  such,  that  she  fell  like 
one  who  had  been  shot.  She  and  Sir  William  had 
literally  been  made  ill  by  their  hopes  and  fears,  and 
joy  at  a  catastrophe  so  far  exceeding  all  that  they 
had  dared  to  hope  for.  Their  admiration  for  the 
hero  necessarily  produced  a  degree  of  proportionate 
gratitude  and  affection  ;  and  when  their  barge  came 
alongside  the  Vanguard,  at  the  sight  of  Nelson, 
Lady  Hamilton  sprang  up  the  ship's  side,  and  ex- 
claiming, "  O  God !  is  it  possible ! "  fell  into  his 
arms,  more,  he  says,  like  one  dead  than  alive.  He 
described  the  meeting  as  "terribly  affecting." 
These  friends  had  scarcely  recovered  from  their 
tears,  when  the  king,  who  went  out  to  meet  him 
three  leagues  in  the  royal  barge,  came  on  board  and 
took  him  by  the  hand,  calling  him  his  deliverer  and 


i  ; 


I 


\*^^^.-:-i.}'OiM', 


\i'-^ 


« 

ii 
Ji 

11 

.41 
)l 

(I 

Jl 
It 


lli 
"   i 


till 

ii: 

III 
III 


Sii 

m 


^ 


162 


/\V 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


.f ,  ■ 


preserver ;  from  all  the  boats  around  he  was  saluted 
with  the  same  appellations  ;  the  multitude  who  sur- 
rounded him  when  he  landed,  repeated  the  same 
enthusiastic  cries  ;  and  the  lazzaroni  displayed  their 
joy  by  holding  up  birds  in  cages,  and  giving  them 
their  liberty  as  he  passed. 

His  birth-day,  which  occurred  a  week  after  his 
arrival,  was  celebrated  with  one  of  the  most  splen- 
did/c^es. ever  beheld  at  Naples.  But,  notwithstand- 
ing the  splendor  with  which  he  was  encircled,  and 
the  flattering  honors  with  which  all  ranks  welcomed 
him,  Nelson  was  fully  sensible  of  the  depravity,  as 
well  as  weakness,  of  those  by  whom  he  was  sur- 
rounded. "What  precious  moments,"  said  he, 
"  the  courts  of  Naples  and  Vienna  are  losing ! 
Three  months  would  liberate  Italy !  but  this  court 
is  so  enervated,  that  the  happy  moment  will  be  lost. 
I  am  very  unwell ;  and  their  miserable  conduct  is 
not  likely  to  cool  my  irritable  temper.  It  is  a  coun- 
try of  fiddlers  and  poets,  whores  and  scoundrels." 
This  sense  of  their  ruinous  weakness  he  always  re- 
tained *,  nor  was  he  ever  blind  to  the  mingled  folly 
and  treachery  of  the  Neapolitan  ministers,  and  the 
complication  of  iniquities  under  which  the  country 
groaned :  but  he  insensibly,  under  the  influence  of 
Lady  Hamilton,  formed  an  affection  for  the  court, 
to  whose  mis-government  the  miserable  condition  of 
the  country  was  so  greatly  to  be  imputed. 

The  state  of  Naples  may  be  described  in  few 
words.  The  king  was  one  of  the  Spanish  Bour- 
bons. \s  the  Caesars  have  shown  us  to  what 
wickt  Inews  the  moral  nature  of  princes  may  be  per- 
verted, so  in  this  family,  the  degradation  to  which 
their  intellectual  nature  can  be  reduced,  has  been 
not  less  conspicuously  evinced.  Ferdinand,  like 
the  rest  of  his  race,  was  passionately  fond  of  field 
sports,  and  cared  for  nothing  else.    His  queen  had 


'! 


■^ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


168 


as 


!     \ 


rt, 
m  of 

few 

lour- 

Iwhat 

per- 

rhich 

ibeen 

like 

field 

had 


all  the  vices  of  the  house  of  Austria,  with  little  to 
mitigate,  and  nothing  to  ennoble  them ; — provided 
she  could  have  her  pleasures,  and  the  king  his 
sports,  they  cared  not  in  what  manner  the  revenue 
was  raised  or  administered.  Of  course  a  system  of 
favoritism  existed  at  court,  and  the  vilest  and  most 
impudent  corruption  prevailed  in  every  department 
of  state,  and  in  every  branch  of  administration, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest.  It  is  only  the  insti- 
tutions of  Christianity,  and  the  vicinity  of  better 
regulated  states,  which  prevent  kingdoms,  under 
such  circumstances  of  misrule,  from  sinking  into  a 
barbarism  like  that  of  Turkey.  A  sense  of  better 
things  was  kept  alive  in  some  of  the  Neapolitans  by 
literature,  and  by  their  intercourse  with  happier 
countries.  These  persons  naturally  looked  to 
France,  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution ; 
and,  during  all  the  horrors  of  that  revolution,  still 
cherished  a  hope  that,  by  the  aid  of  France,  they 
might  be  enabled  to  establish  a  new  order  of  things 
in  Naples.  They  were  grievously  mistaken  in  sup- 
posing that  the  principles  of  liberty  would  ever  be 
supported  by  France,  but  they  were  not  mistaken  in 
believing  that  no  government  could  be  worse  than 
their  own ;  and,  therefore,  they  considered  any 
change  as  desirable.  In  this  opinion  men  of  the 
most  different  characters  agreed.  Many  of  the 
nobles,  who  were  not  in  favor,  wished  for  a  revolu- 
tion, that  they  might  obtain  the  ascendancy  to 
which  they  thought  themselves  entitled :  men  of  des- 
perate fortunes  desired  it,  in  the  hope  of  enriching 
themselves ;  knaves  and  intriguers  sold  themselves 
to  the  French,  to  promote  it ;  and  a  few  enlightened 
men,  and  true  lovers  of  their  country,  joined  in  the 
same  cause,  from  the  purest  and  noblest  motives. 
All  these  were  confounded  under  the  common  name 
of  Jacobins ;  and  the  Jacobins  of  the  continental 


i' 


n 


1*1! 


I   \ 


I-  ,1 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


kingdoms  were  regarded  by  the  English  with  more 
hatred  than  they  deserved.  They  were  classed  with 
Philippe  Egalite,  Marat,  and  Hebert ;  whereas  they 
deserved  rather  to  be  ranked,  if  not  witli  Locke, 
and  Sydney,  and  Russell,  at  least  with  Argyle  and 
Monmouth,  and  those  who,  having  the  same  object 
as  the  prime  movers  of  our  own  revolution,  failed 
in  their  premature,  but  not  unworthy,  attempt. 

No  circumstances  could  be  more  unfavorable  to 
the  best  interests  of  Europe,  than  those  which  placed 
England  in  strict  alliance  with  the  superannuated 
and  abominable  governments  of  the  continent.  The 
subjects  of  those  jjovernments  who  wished  for  free- 
dom, thus  became  enemies  to  England,  and  dupes 
and  agents  of  France.  They  looked  to  their  own 
grinding  grievances,  and  did  not  see  the  danger  with 
which  the  liberties  of  the  world  were  threatened : 
England,  on  the  other  hand,  saw  the  danger  in  its 
true  magnitude,  but  was  blind  to  these  grievances, 
and  found  herself  compelled  to  support  systems, 
which  had  formerly  been  equally  the  object  of  her 
abhorrence  and  her  contempt.  Tnis  was  the  state  of 
Nelson's  mind :  he  knew  that  there  could  be  no 
peace  for  Europe  till  the  pride  of  France  was  hum- 
bled, and  her  strength  broken ;  and  he  regarded  all 
those  who  were  the  friends  of  France  as  traitors  to 
the  common  cause,  as  well  as  to  their  own  individual 
sovereigns.  There  are  situations  in  which  the  most 
opposite  and  hostile  parties  may  mean  equally  well, 
and  yet  act  equally  wrong.  The  court  of  Naples, 
unconscious  of  committing  any  crime  by  continuing 
the  system  of  misrule,  to  which  they  had  succeeded, 
conceived  that,  in  maintaining  things  as  they  were, 
tbey  were  maintaining  their  own  rights,  and  preserv- 
ing the  people  from  such  horrors  as  had  been  perpe- 
trated in  France.  The  Neapolitan  revolutionists 
thought  that,  without  a  total  change  of  system,  any 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


165 


i 


relief  from  the  present  evils  was  impossible,  and 
they  believed  themselves  justified  in  bringin<r  rbout 
that  change  by  any  means.  Both  parties  kf  ew  that 
it  was  the  fixed  intention  of  the  French  to  revolu- 
tionize Naples.  The  revolutionists  supposed  that  it 
was  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  free  govern- 
ment ;  the  court,  and  all  disinterested  persons,  were 
perfectly  aware  that  the  enemy  had  no  other  object 
than  conquest  and  plunder. 

The  battle  of  the  Nile  shook  the  power  of  France. 
Her  most  successful  general,  and  her  finest  army, 
were  blocked  up  in  Egypt — hopeless,  as  it  appeared, 
of  return  •  and  the  government  was  in  the  hands  of 
men  without  talents,  without  character,  and  divided 
among  themselves.  Austria,  whom  Bonaparte  had 
terrified  into  a  peace,  at  a  time  when  constancy  on 
her  part  would  probably  have  led  to  his  destruction, 
took  advantage  of  the  crisis  to  renew  the  war. 
Russia  also  was  preparing  to  enter  the  field  with 
unbroken  forces  ;  led  by  a  general,  whose  extraordi- 
nary military  genius  would  have  entitled  him  to  a 
high  and  honorable  rank  in  history,  if  it  had  not 
been  sullied  by  all  the  ferocity  of  a  barbarian. 
Naples  seeing  its  destruction  at  hand,  and  thinking 
that  the  only  means  of  averting  it  was  by  meeting 
the  danger,  after  long  vacillations,  which  were  pro- 
duced by  the  fears  and  weakness  and  treachery  of 
its  council,  agreed  at  last  to  join  this  new  coalition 
with  a  numerical  force  of  80,000  men.  Nelson  told 
the  king,  in  plain  terms,  that  iie  had  his  choice, 
either  to  advance,  trusting  to  God  for  his  blessing 
on  a  just  cause,  and  prepared  to  die  sword  in  hand 
— or  to  remain*  quiet,  and  be  kicked  out  of  his  king- 
dom : — one  oi  these  thi^^s  must  happen.  The 
king  made  answer,  he  wo.;id  go  on,  and  Tist  in 
God  and  Nelson :  and  Nelson,  who  would  ei-e  have 
retui-ned  to  Egypt,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying 


04 


,»  I' 


II      ':. 


:'i! 


Fn  H'i 


lee 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


the  French  shipping  in  Alexandria,  gave  up  his  in- 
dention at  the  desire  of  the  Neapolitan  court,  and 
resolved  to  remain  on  that  station,  in  the  hope  that 
he  might  be  iiseful  to  the  movementa  of  the  iirray. 
He  suspectc',  also,  with  reason,  tbiit  iXui  coiitina- 
ance  of  his  fleet  was  so  earnestly  reqaesied,  because 
the  royal  family  thought  tht  r  pe  iioiis  ,voui  I  Ix* 
safer,  in  case  of  any  mishap,  under  ti  e  British  flag, 
than  under  their  own. 

His  first  object  was  the  recovery  of  Malta;  an 
island  which  the  king  of  Naplf  s  pretended  to  cla  m. 
The  Maltese,  whou.  the  vil^aiiiour.  knights  of  thoir 
order  had  betrayed  to  Franco,  bad  taken  .^j  arms 
i^gainst  thoir  rapacious  invaders,  with  :«,  spirit  and 
I  risniii  ity  worthy  the  highest  praise.  They  block- 
aded luQ  Fitiich  garrison  by  land,  and  a  small 
squik'ijn,  under  Captain  Ball,  began  to  blockade 
then?  hy  sea,  on  the  12th  of  October.  Twelve  days 
afterwards  Nekton  arrived,  and  the  little  island  of 
Gozo,  dependem;  upon  Malta,  wbich  had  also  been 
seized  and  garrisoned  by  the  French,  capitulated 
soon  after  his  arrival,  and  was  taken  possession 
of  by  the  British,  in  the  name  of  his  Sicilian 
Majesty, — a  power  who  had  no  better  claim  to  it  than 
France.  Having  seen  this  effected  and  reinforced 
Captain  Ball,  he  left  that  able  officer  to  perform  a 
most  arduous  and  important  part,  and  returned  him- 
self to  co-operate  with  the  intended  movements  of 
the  Neapolitans. 

General  Mack  was  at  the  head  of  the  Neapolitan 
troops : — all  that  is  now  doubtful  concerning  this 
man  is  whether  he  was  a  coward  or  a  traitor : — at  that 
time  he  was  assiduously  extolled  as  a  most  consum- 
mate commander,  to  whom  Europe  might  look  for 
deliverance :  and  when  he  was  introduced  by  the 
king  and  queen  to  the  British  ^(ialral,  the  queen 
B&id  to  him,  "Be  to  us  by  land ,  ,:  meral,  what  my 


^  .  I ' .. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


im 


hero  Nelson  has  been  ^y  sea."  Mack,  on  his  part, 
did  not  fail  to  praioe  the  force  which  he  was  ap-| 
pointed  to  command  :  "  It  was,"  he  said,  ''  the  finest 
army  in  Europe."  Nelson  agreed  with  him  that 
there  could  not  be  finer  men :  but  when  the  general,' 
at  a  review,  so  directed  the  operations  of  a  mock 
fight,  that,  by  an  unhappy  blunder,  his  own  troops 
were  surrounded  instead  of  those  of  the  enemy,  he 
turned  to  his  friends,  and  exclaimed,  with  bitter- 
ness, that  the  fellow  did  not  understand  his  busi- 
ness. Another  circumstance,  not  less  characteristic, 
confirmed  Nelson  in  his  judgment.  "General 
Mack,"  said  he,  in  one  of  his  letters,  "cannot 
move  without  five  carriages !  I  have  formed  my 
opinion.     I  heartily  pray  I  may  be  mistaken." 

"While  Mack,  at  the  head  of  32,000  men,  marched 
into  the  Roman  state,  5,000  Neapolitans  were  em- 
barked on  board  the  British  and  Portuguese  squad- 
ron, to  take  possession  of  Leghorn.  This  was 
effected  without  opposition  ;  and  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany,  whose  neutrality  had  been  so  outrageously 
violated  by  the  French,  was  better  satisfied  with  the 
measure  than  some  of  the  Neapolitans  themselves. 
Naselli,  their  general,  refused  to  seize  the  French 
vessels  at  Leghorn,  jjecause  he  and  the  Duke  di 
Sangro,  who  was  ambassador  at  the  Tuscan  court, 
maintained  that  the  King  of  Naples  was  not  at 
war  with  France.  "What!"  said  Nelson,  "has 
not  the  king  received,  as  a  conquest  made  by  him, 
the  republican  flag  taken  at  Gozo  ?  Is  not  his  own 
flag  flying  there,  and  at  Malta,  not  only  by  his  per- 
mission, but  by  his  order  ?  Is  not  his  flag  shot  at 
every  day  by  the  French,  and  their  shot  returned 
from  ^»atteries  which  bear  that  flag?  Are  not  two 
tri2,ate8  and  a  corvette  placed  under  my  orders 
read}  to  fight  the  French,  meet  them  where  they 
may  ?    Has  nol  the  king  sent  publicly  from  Naples, 


168 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


k 


\\ 


guns,  mortars,  etc.,  with  officers  and  artillery, 
against  the  French  in  Malta  ?  If  these  acts  are  not 
tantamount  to  any  written  paper,  I  give  up  all 
knowledge  of  what  is  war."  This  reasoning  was  of 
less  avail  than  argument  addressed  to  the  general's 
fears.  Nelson  told  him,  that  if  he  permitted  the 
many  hundred  French  who  were  then  in  the  mole  to 
remain  neutral,  till  they  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
being  active,  they  had  one  sure  resource,  if  all  other 
schemes  failed,  which  was,  to  set  one  vessel  on  fire  ; 
the  mole  would  be  destroyed,  probably  the  town 
also ;  and  the  port  ruined  for  twenty  years.  This 
representation  made  Naselli  agree  to  the  half  meas- 
ure of  laying  an  embargo  on  the  vessels  : — among 
them  wove  a  great  number  of  French  privateers, 
some  of  which  were  of  such  force  as  to  threaten 
the  greatest  mischief  to  our  commerce,  and  about 
seventy  sail  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  Ligurian 
republic,  as  Genoa  was  now  called,  laden  with  corn, 
and  ready  to  sail  for  Genoa  and  France ;  where 
their  an'ival  would  have  expedited  the  entrance  of 
more  French  troops  into  Italy.  "The  general," 
said  Nelson,  "  saw,  I  believe,  the  consequence  of 
permitting  these  vessels  to  depart,  in  the  same  light 
as  myself :  but  there  is  this  diff.  ^'ence  between  us — 
he  prudently,  and  certainly  safely,  waits  the  orders 
of  his  court,  taking  no  responsibility  upon  himself ; 
I  act  from  the  circumstances  of  the  moment,  as  I 
feel  may  be  most  advantageous  for  the  cause  which 
I  serve,  taking  all  responsibility  on  myself."  It  was 
in  vain  to  hope  for  anything  vigor  ous  or  manly  from 
such  men  as  Nelson  was  compelled  to  act  with. 
The  crews  of  the  French  ships  and  their  allies  were 
ordered  to  depart  in  two  days.  Four  days  elapsed, 
and  nobody  obeyed  the  order ;  nor,  in  spite  of  the 
representations  of  the  British  minister,  Mr.  Wynd- 
ham,  were  any  means  taken  to  enforce  it : — the  true 


/    t 


'A 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


IGO 


of 
-  >» 
A? 

of 

rht 


Neapolitan  shuffle,  as  Nelson  culled  it,  took  plstce  on 
all  occasions.  After  an  absence  of  ten  days,  he  re- 
turned to  Naples :  and  receiving  intelligence  there, 
from  Mr.  "Wyndham,  that  the  privateers  were  at  last 
to  be  disarmed,  the  corn  landed,  and  the  crews  sent 
away,  he  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  mws  in 
characteristic  language,  saying,  *'  So  far  I  am  con- 
tent. The  enemy  will  be  distressed ;  and,  thank 
God,  I  shall  get  no  money.  The  world,  I  know, 
think  that  money  is  our  god ;  and  now  they  will  be 
undeceived  as  fir  as  relates  to  us.  Down,  down 
with  the  French  !  is  my  constant  prayer." 

Odes,  sonnets,  and  congratulatory  poems,  of  every 
description,  were  poured  in  upon  Nelson,  on  his 
arrival  at  Naples.  An  Irish  Franciscan,  who  was 
one  of  the  poets,  not  being  content  with  panegyric, 
upon  this  occasion  ventured  upon  a  flight  of  proph- 
ecy, and  predicted  that  Lord  Nelson  would  take 
Rome  with  his  ships.  His  lordship  reminded  Father 
M'Cormick,  that  ships  could  not  ascer'il  the  Tiber : 
but  the  father,  who  had  probably  forgotten  this  cir- 
cumstance, met  the  objection  with  a  bold  f"  ',  and 
declared  he  saw  that  it  would  come  to  pass  _i>f  with- 
standing. Rejoicings  of  this  kind  were  of  short 
duration.  The  King  of  Naples  was  with  the  army 
which  had  entered  Rome ;  but  the  castle  of  St. 
Angelo  was  held  by  the  French,  and  13,000  French 
were  strongly  posted  in  the  Roman  states  at  Castal- 
lana.  Mack  had  marched  against  them  with  20,000 
men.  Nelson  saw  that  the  event  was  doubtful ; — 
or  rather,  that  there  could  be  very  lit*1'  l^^^e  of  the 
result.  But  the  immediate  fate  of  i^apies,  as  he 
well  knew,  hung  upon  the  issue.  "  If  Mack  is  de- 
feated," said  he,  *'  in  fourteen  days  this  country  is 
lost ;  for  the  emperor  has  not  ^et  moved  his  army, 
and  Naples  has  not  the  power  of  resisting  the  enemy. 
It  was  not  a  case  for  choice,  but  of  necessity,  which 


^ 


n  I 

%  i 


iUlM* 


/ 


I 


170 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


induced  the  king  to  march  out  of  his  kingdom^  and 
not  wait  till  the  French  had  collected  a  force  suflS- 
cient  to  drive  him  out  of  it  in  a  week."  He  had 
no  reliance  apon  the  Neapolitan  ofticers;  who,  as 
he  deaorioiA>  \''>  m,  seemed  frightened  at  a  drawn 
sword  ')V  I.  loaded  gun ;  and  he  was  perfectly  aware 
of  tha  consequences  which  the  sluggish  movements 
and  deceitful  policy  of  the  Austrians  were  likely  to 
bring  down  upon  themselves,  and  all  their  continental 
allies.  ''A  delayer)  v  .n  the  part  of  the  em- 
peror," said  he,  writing  to  the  British  minister  at 
Vienna,  "will  be  destructive  to  this  monarchy  of 
Naples ;  and,  of  course,  to  the  newly  acquh'ed  do- 
minions of  the  emperor  in  Italy.  Had  the  war  com- 
menced in  September  or  October,  all  Italy  would,  at 
this  moment  have  been  liberated.  This  month  is 
worse  than  the  last :  the  next  will  render  the  contest 
doubtful :  and,  in  six  months,  when  the  Neapolitan 
republic  will  be  organised,  armed,  and  with  its  nu- 
merous resources  callod  forth,  the  emperor  will  not 
only  be  defeated  in  Italy,  but  will  totter  ou  ais  throne 
at  Vienna.  Down,  down  with  the  French!  ought 
to  be  written  in  the  council-room  of  every  country 
in  the  world:  and  may  Almighty  God  give  right 
thoughts  to  every  sovereign,  is  my  constant  prayer ! " 
His  perfect  foresiojht  of  the  immediate  event  was 
clearly  shown  in  titis  letter,  when  he  desired  the 
ambassfidor  to  assure  the  fmpress  (who  was  a 
daughtei  ot  the  house  o.  Naples)  that,  notwithstand- 
ing the  councils  which  had  shaken  the  throne  of  her 
father  and  :c other,  he  would  reir.ain  there,  ready  to 
save  their  persons,  and  her  brothers  and  sisters ;  and 
that  he  had  also  left  ship;''  at  Leghorn,  to  save  the 
lives  of  the  grand-c^nke  and  her  sister :  "  For  all," 
said  he,  "  must  bt  rep  iblic,  if  the  emperor  does 
not  act  with  expeu  ti-n  id  vigor." 
His  feai's  were  soon  verified.     "  The  Neapolitan 


T     ^  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m 


>» 


oflBcers,"  said  Nelson,  **  did  not  lose  much  honor, 
for  God  knows  they  had  not  much  to  lose ; — but 
they  lost  all  they  had."  General  St.  Philip  com- 
manded the  right  wing,  of  19,000  men.  He  fell  in 
with  3,000  of  the  enemy ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  came 
near  enough,  deserted  to  them.  One  of  his  men 
had  virtue  enough  to  level  a  musket  at  him,  aid  shot 
him  through  the  arm  ;  but  the  wound  was  not  suffi- 
cient to  prevent  him  from  joining  with  the  French  in 
pursuit  of  his  own  countrymen.  Cannon^  tents, 
baggage,  and  nilitai'y  chest,  were  all  forsaken  by  the 
runaways,  though  they  lost  only  forty  men ;  for  the 
French,  having  put  them  to  flight,  and  got  possession 
of  everything,  did  not  pursue  an  army  of  more 
than  three  i  mes  their  own  number.  The  main  body 
of  the  Neapolitans,  under  Mack,  did  not  behave 
better.  The  king  returned  to  Naples ;  where  every 
day  brought  with  it  the  tidings  of  some  new  dis- 
grace from  the  army,  and  the  discovery  of  some  new 
treachery  at  home ;  till,  four  days  after  his  return, 
the  general  sent  him  advice,  that  there  was  no  pros- 
pect of  stopping  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  and 
that  the  royal  family  must  look  to  their  own  personal 
safety.  The  state  of  the  public  mind  at  Naples  was 
such,  at  this  time,  that  neither  the  British  minister, 
nor  the  British  admiral,  thought  it  prudent  to  appear 
at  court.  Their  motions  were  watched ;  and  the 
revolutionists  had  even  formed  a  plan  for  seizing 
and  detaining  them  as  hostages,  to  prevent  any 
attack  on  the  city  after  the  French  had  taken  pos- 
session of  it.  A  letter,  which  Nekon.  addressed  at 
this  time  to  the  first  lord  of  the  admiralty,  shows 
in  what  manner  he  contemplated  the  possible  issue 
of  the  storm.  It  was  in  these  words  : — "  My  dear 
Lord,—  There  is  an  old  saying,  that  when-  things  are 
at  the  worst  they  must  mend : — now  the  mind  of 
man  cannot  fancy  things  worse  than  they  are  here. 


r      W 


ti 


lllllll 

ft  Hill 

I'iBllli 


^<il!l 


!l 


f  "Sil 

■     llHII 


II  Mil 


IS 


ii  M 


Willi      ■ 

III  III  I  '" 


'l!i 


111    ^'i 

jiii 


172 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


But,  thank  God !  my  health  is  better,  my  mind 
never  firmer,  and  my  heart  in  the  right  trim  to 
comfort,  relieve,  and  protect  those  whom  it  is  my 
duty  to  afford  assistance  to.  Pi'ay,  my  lord,  assure 
our  gracious  sovereign,  that,  while  I  live,  I  will 
support  his  glory  :  and  that,  if  I  fall,  it  shall  be  in 
a  manner  worthy  of  your  lordship's  faithful  and 
obliged  Nelson.  I  must  not  write  more.  Every 
word  may  be  the  text  for  a  long  letter." 

Meantime  Lady  Hamilton  arranged  everything 
for  the  removal  of  the  royal  family.  This  was  con- 
ducted on  her  part  with  the  greatest  address,  and 
without  suspicion,  because  she  had  been  in  habits  of 
constant  correspondence  with  the  queen.  It  was 
known,  that  the  removal  could  not  be  effected  with- 
out danger ;  for  the  mob,  and  especially  the  lazzaroni, 
were  attached  to  the  king :  and  as,  at  this  time,  they 
felt  a  natural  presumption  in  their  own  numbers,  and 
strength,  they  insisted  that  he  should  not  leave 
Naples.  Several  persons  fell  victims  to  their  fury  : 
among  others  was  a  messenger  from  Vienna,  whose 
body  was  dragged  under  the  windows  of  the  palace 
in  the  king's  sight.  The  king  and  queen  spoke  to 
the  mob,  and  pacified  them ;  but  it  would  not  have 
been  safe,  while  they  were  in  this  agitated  state,  to 
have  embarked  the  effects  of  the  royal  family  openly. 
Lady  Hamilton,  like  a  heroine  of  modern  romance, 
explored,  with  no  little  danger,  a  subterraneous 
passage,  leading  from  the  palace  to  the  sea-side : 
through  this  passage,  the  royal  ti'easures,  the  choicest 
pieces  of  painting  and  sculpture,  and  other  property, 
to  the  amount  of  two  millions  and  a-half ,  were  con- 
veyed to  the  shore,  and  stowed  safely  on  board  the 
English  ships.  On  the  night  of  the  21st,  at  half- 
past  eight.  Nelson  landed,  brought  out  the  whole 
of  the  royal  family,  embarked  them  in  three  barges, 
and  carried  them  safely,  through  a  tremendous  sea, 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


173 


;ous 


3on- 

the 

lalf- 

hole 


to  the  Vanguard.  Notice  was  tlion  immediately 
given  to  tlie  British  merchants,  that  they  would  be 
received  on  board  any  ship  in  the  squadron.  Their 
property  had  been  previously  embarked  in  transports. 
Two  days  were  passed  in  the  bay,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  such  persons  on  board  as  required  an  asylum ; 
and,  on  the  night  of  the  23rd,  the  fleet  sailed.  The 
next  day  a  more  violent  storm  arose  than  Nelson 
had  ever  before  encountered.  On  the  25th,  the 
youngest  of  the  princes  were  taken  ill,  and  died  in 
Lady  Hamilton's  arms.  During  this  whole  trying 
season,  Lady  Hamilton  waited  upon  the  royal 
family  with  the  zeal  of  the  most  devoted  servant,  at 
a  time  when,  except  one  man,  no  person  belonging 
to  the  court  assisted  them. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th,  the  royal  family  were 
landed  at  Palmero.  It  was  soon  seen  that  their 
flight  had  not  been  premature.  Prince  Pignatelli, 
who  had  been  left  as  vicar-general  and  viceroy,  with 
orders  to  defend  the  kingdom  to  the  last  rock  in 
Calabria,  sent  plenipotentaries  to  the  French  camp 
before  Capua ;  and  they,  for  the  sake  of  saving  the 
capital,  signed  an  armistice,  by  which  the  greater 
part  of  the  kingdom  was  given  up  to  the  enemy :  a 
cession  that  necessarily  led  to  the  loss  of  the  whole. 
This  was  on  the  10th  of  January.  The  French  ad- 
vanced towards  Naples.  Mack,  under  pretext  of 
taking  shelter  from  the  fury  of  the  lazzaroni,  fled  to 
the  French  general  Championet,  who  sent  him  under 
an  escort  to  Milan :  but,  as  France  hoped  for  farther 
services  from  this  wretched  traitor,  it  was  thought 
prudent  to  treat  him  apparently  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 
Tlie  Neapolitan  army  disappeared  in  a  few  days :  of 
the  men,  some,  following  their  oflScers,  deserted  to 
the  enemy  :  the  greater  part  took  the  opportunity  of 
disbanding  themselves.  The  lazzaroni  proved  true 
to  their  country  :  they  attacked  the  enemy's  advanced 


"!r»-»^*M»»«C*ik-/»»»  ■,»;*>»  ^•ifft  ('HI 


^*.i  -»»-.,  M  .,  -^ry^n^.^  f-^rt^  **^i  .'*^  ■ 


I  .*i. «*v. *i'«.»*^-*'*i»r* -''♦*>  *t^'7f^,t*fh  .*-♦*••■- 


llpiiii    ■; 

f||j|flU    ■''! 

4 


'I 


:  iin. 
'Ill 

llillpt 


'!!li! 


til 


!   'Ii 


\- 


1V4 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


posts,  drove  them  in,  and  were  not  dispirited  by  the 
murderous  defeat  which  they  suffered  from  the  main 
body.  Flying  into  the  city,  they  continued  to  defend 
it,  even  after  the  French  had  planted  their  artillery 
in  the  principal  streets.  Had  there  been  a  man  of 
genius  to  have  directed  their  enthusiasm,  or  had 
there  been  any  correspondent  feelings  in  the  higher 
ranks,  Naples  might  have  set  a  glorious  example  to 
Europe,  and  have  proved  the  grave  of  every  French- 
man who  entered  it.  But  the  vices  of  the  govern- 
ment had  extinguished  all  other  patriotism  than  that 
of  a  rabble,  whc  liad  no  other  virtue  than  that  sort 
of  loyalty,  which  was  like  the  fidelity  of  a  dog  to  its 
master.  This  fidelity  the  French  and  their  ad- 
herents counteracted  by  another  kind  of  devotion : 
the  priests  affirmed  that  St.  Januarius  had  declared 
in  favor  of  the  revolution.  The  miracle  of  his  blood 
was  performed  with  the  usual  success,  and  more 
than  usual  effect,  on  the  very  evening  when,  after 
two  days  of  desperate  fighting,  the  French  obtained 
possession  of  Naples.  A  French  guard  of  honor 
was  stationed  at  his  church.  Championet  gave, 
*'  Respect  for  St.  Januarius  ! "  as  the  word  for  the 
army ;  and  the  next  day  Te  Deum  was  sung  by  the 
archbishop,  iu  the  cathedral ;  and  the  inhabitants 
were  invited  to  attend  the  ceremony,  and  join  in 
thanksgiving  for  the  glorious  entree  of  the  French  ; 
who,  it  was  said,  being  under  the  peculiar  protection 
of  Providence,  had  regenerated  the  Neapolitans, 
and  were  come  to  establish  and  consolidate  their 
happiness. 

It  seems  to  have  been  Nelson's  opinion,  that  the 
Austrian  cabinet  regarded  the  conquest  of  Naples 
with  complacency,  and  that  its  measures  were 
directed  so  as  designedly  not  to  prevent  the  French 
from  overrunning  it.  That  cabinet  >vas  assuredly 
capable  of  any  folly  and  of  any  baseness :  and  it  ia 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


175 


the 
)les 
reve 
Inch 
Idiy 
It  ia 


not  improbable  that,  at  this  time,  calculating  upon 
the  success  of  the  new  coalition,  it  indulged  a  dream 
of  adding  extensively  to  its  former  Italian  posses- 
sions ;  and,  therefore,  left  the  few  remaining  powers 
of  Italy  to  be  overthrown,  as  a  means  which  would 
facilitate  its  own  ambitious  views.  The  King  of 
Sardinia,  finding  it  impossible  longer  to  endure  the 
exactions  of  France,  and  the  insults  of  the  French 
commissary,  went  to  Leghorn,  embarked  on  board  a 
Danish  frigate,  and  sailed,  und!er  British  protection, 
to  Sardinia — that  part  of  his  dominions  which  the 
maritime  supremacy  of  England  rendered  a  secure 
asylum.  On  his  arrival  he  published  a  protest 
against  the  conduct  of  France  ;  declaring,  upon  the 
faith  and  word  of  a  king,  that  he  had  never  in- 
fringed, even  in  the  slightest  degree,  the  treaties 
which  he  had  made  with  the  French  republic.  Tus- 
cany was  soon  occupied  by  French  troops :  a  fate 
which  bolder  policy  might,  perhaps,  have  failed  to 
avert,  but  which  its  weak  and  timid  neutrality  ren- 
dered inevitable.  Nelson  began  to  fear  even  for 
Sicily.  "  Oh,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he,  writing  to 
Commodore  Duckworth,  '*  one  thousand  English 
troops  would  save  Messina, — and  I  fear  General 
Stuart  cannot  give  me  men  to  save  this  most  im- 
portant island !  "  But  his  representations  were  not 
lost  upon  Sir  Charles  Stuart :  this  officer  hastened 
immediately  from  Minorca,  with  a  thousand  men, 
assisted  in  the  measures  of  defence  which  were 
taken,  and  did  not  return  before  he  had  satisfied 
himself  that,  if  the  Neapolitans  were  excluded  from 
the  management  of  affairs,  and  the  spirit  of  the 
peasantry  properly  directed,  Sicily  was  safe.  Be- 
fore his  coming.  Nelson  had  offered  the  king,  if  no 
resources  should  arrive,  to  defend  Messina  with  the 
ship's  company  of  an  English  man-of-war. 

Russia  had  now  entered  into  the  war.     Corfu  sur- 


It 


.•-•i\ . 


<  -^  •♦  .*. 


II  Hi  I 
iillii  ^1 


■':n 


i 


170 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


rendered  to  a  Russian  and  Turkish  fleet,  acting 
now,  for  the  first  time,  in  strange  confederacy  ;  yet 
against  a  power  which  was  certainly  the  common 
and  worst  enemy  jf  both.  Trowbridge,  having 
given  up  the  blockade  of  Alexandria  to  Sir  Sydney 
Smith,  joined  Nelson,  bringing  with  him  a  consider- 
able addition  of  strength ;  and  in  himself,  what 
Nelson  valued  more,  a  man  upon  whose  sagacity, 
indefatigable  zeal,  and  inexhaustible  resources,  he 
could  place  full  reliance.  Trowbridge  was  instruct- 
ed to  commence  the  operations  against  the  French 
in  the  bay  of  Naples : — meantime  Cardinal  Ruffo,  a 
man  of  questionable  character,  but  of  a  temper 
fitted  for  such  times,  having  landed  in  Calabria, 
raised  what  he  called  a  Christian  army,  composed 
of  the  best  and  vilest  materials ;  loyal  peasants, 
enthusiastic  priests  and  friars,  galley  slaves,  the 
emptying  of  the  jails,  and  banditti.  The  islands  in 
the  bay  of  Naples  were  joyfully  delivered  up  by  the 
inhabitants,  who  were  in  a  state  of  famine  already, 
from  the  effect  of  this  baleful  revolution.  Trow- 
bridge distributed  among  them  all  his  flour ;  and 
Nelson  pressed  the  Sicilian  court  incessantly  :  or 
supplies ;  telling  them,  that  £10,000  given  away  in 
provisions,  would,  at  this  time,  purchase  a  king- 
dom. Money,  he  was  told,  they  had  not  to  give ; 
and  the  wisdom  and  integrity  which  might  have  sup- 
plied its  want,  were  not  to  be  found.  "  There  is 
nothing,"  said  he,  "  which  I  propose,  that  is  not,  as 
far  as  orders  go,  implicitly  complied  with :  but  tlie 
execution  is  dreadfiil,  and  almost  makes  me  mad. 
My  desire  to  serve  their  majesties  faithfully,  as  is 
my  duty,  has  b^en  suclj,  that  I  am  almost  blmr'.  and 
worn  out ;  and  cannot,  in  my  present  state,  hold 
much  longer." 

Before  any  government  can  be  overthrown  by  the 
consent  of  the  people,  the  government  must  be  in- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 


a 


tlie 
lad. 

las  is 
and 

hold 

the 
be  in- 


tolerably oppressive,  or  the  people  thoroughly  cor- 
rupted. Bad  as  the  misrule  at  Naples  had  been,  its 
consequences  had  been  felt  far  less  there  than  in 
Sicily  ;  and  the  peasantry  had  that  attachment  to 
the  soil,  which  gives  birth  to  so  many  of  the  noblest, 
as  well  as  of  the  happiest  feelings.  In  all  the 
islands  the  people  were  perfectly  frantic  with  joy, 
when  they  saw  the  Neapolitan  colors  hoisted.  At 
Procida,  Trowbridge  could  not  procure  even  a  rag 
of  the  tri-colored  flag  to  lay  at  the  king's  feet ;  it 
was  rent  into  ten  thousand  pieces  by  the  inhabitants, 
and  entirely  destroyed.  "The  horrid  treatment  of 
the  French,"  he  said,  "  had  made  them  mad."  It 
exasperated  the  ferocity  of  a  character,  which 
neither  the  laws  nor  the  religion  under  which  they 
lived  tended  to  mitigate.  Their  hatred  was  espe- 
cially directed  agrinst  the  Neapolitan  revolutionists  ; 
and  the  fishermf ;»,  in  concert  among  themselves, 
chose  each  his  own  victim,  whom  he  would  stiletto 
when  the  day  of  vengeance  should  arrive.  The 
head  of  one  was  sent  off  one  morning  to  Trow- 
bridge, with  his  basket  of  grapes  for  breakfast ; — 
and  a  note  from  the  Italian,  who  had,  what  he 
called,  the  glory  of  presenting  it ;  saying,  he  had 
killed  the  man  as  he  wa8  running  away,  and  begging 
his  excellency  to  accept  the  head,  and  consider  it  as 
a  proof  of  the  writer's  attachment  to  the  crown. 
With  the  first  successes  of  the  court  the  work  of 
punishment  began.  The  judge  at  Ischia  said  it  was 
necessary  to  have  a  bishop  to  degi'ade  the  traitorous 
priests  before  he  could  execute  them  :  upon  which 
Trowbridge  advised  him  to  hang  them  first,  and 
send  them  to  him  afterwards,  if  he  did  not  think 
that  degradation  sufficient.  This  was  said  with  the 
straightforward  feeling  of  a  sailor,  who  cared  as 
little  for  canon  law  as  he  knew  about  it :  but  when 
he  discovered  that  the  judge's  orders  were  to  go 
12 


i 


i\ 


hi 
i 


V  ■  ■  '-  '■ 


1)1  -ill 


Ft:   "^ 


ill 


"  tm 


.iSii;^ 
i^,    ''iiii 
U«ii'i' 


■'111 


Hi,.l  I' 


,  ll'lll 


'il{;!  ^:. 


178 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


through  the  business  in  a  summary  manner,  under 
his  sanction,  he  told  him  at  once  that  could  not  be, 
for  the  prisoners  were  not  British  subjects  ;  and  he 
declined  having  anything  to  do  with  it.  There  were 
manifestly  persons  about  the  court,  who,  while  they 
thirsted  for  the  pleasure  of  vengeance,  were  devis- 
ing how  to  throw  the  odium  of  it  upon  the  English. 
They  wanted  to  employ  an  English  man-of-war  to 
carry  the  priests  to  Palermo,  for  degradation,  and 
then  bring  them  back  for  execut'cn  ; — and  they  ap- 
plied to  Trowbridge  for  a  hangman,  which  he  indig- 
nantly refused.  He,  meantime,  was  almost  heart- 
broken by  the  situation  in  vhich  he  found  himself. 
He  had  promised  relief  to  the  islanders,  relying 
upon  the  queen's  promise  to  him.  He  had  distrib- 
uted the  whole  of  his  private  stock, — there  was 
plenty  of  grain  at  Palermo,  and  in  its  neighbor- 
hood, and  yet  none  was  sent  him :  the  enemy,  he 
complained,  had  more  interest  there  than  the  king  ; 
and  the  distress  for  bread,  which  he  witnessed,  was 
such,  he  said,  that  it  would  move  even  a  Frenchman 
to  pity. 

Nelson's  mind  was  not  in  a  happier  state  respect- 
ing public  affairs.  "As  to  politics,"  said  he,  "at 
this  time  they  are  my  abomination  : — the  ministers 
of  kings  and  princes  are  as  great  scoundrels  as  ever 
lived.  The  brother  of  the  emperor  is  just  going  to 
marry  the  great  something  of  Eussia,  and  it  is  more 
than  expected  that  a  kingdom  is  to  be  found  for  him 
in  Italy,  and  that  the  king  of  Naples  will  be  sacri- 
ficed." Had  there  been  a  wise  and  manly  spirit  in 
the  Italian  states,  or  had  the  conduct  of  Austria 
been  directed  by  anything  like  a  principle  of  honor, 
a  more  favorable  opportunity  could  not  havv^  been 
desired,  for  restoring  order  and  prosperity  in 
Europe,  than  the  misconduct  of  the  French  direc- 
tory at  this  time  afforded.    But  Nelson  eaw  selfish- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


179 


)ect- 
"at 
iters 
ever 
igto 
lore 
him 
Jacri- 
:it  in 
tstria 
>nor, 
Ib^en 
in 
lireo- 
Lfish- 


ness  and  knavery  wherever  he  looked  ;  and  even  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  a  cause  prosper  in  which  he  was 
«o  zealously  engaged,  was  poisoned  by  his  sense  of 
the  rascality  of  those  with  whom  he  was  compelled 
to  act.  A^  this  juncture  intelligence  arrived  that 
the  French  fleet  had  escaped  from  Brest,  under 
cover  of  a  fog,  passed  Cadiz  unseen  by  Lcrd 
Keith's  squadron,  in  hazy  weather,  and  entered  the 
Mediterranean.  It  was  said  to  consist  of  twenty- 
four  sail  of  the  line,  six  frigates,  and  three  sloops. 
The  object  of  the  French  was  to  liberate  the  Spanish 
fleet,  form  a  junction  with  them,  act  against  Minorca 
and  Sicily,  and  overpower  our  naval  force  in  the 
Mediterranean,  by  falling  in  with  detached  squad- 
rons, and  thus  destroying  it  in  detail.  When  they 
arrived  off  Carthagena,  they  requested  the  Spanish 
ships  to  make  sail  and  join ;  but  the  Spaniards  re- 
plied, they  had  not  men  to  man  them.  To  this  it 
was  answered,  that  the  French  had  men  enough  on 
board  for  that  purpose.  But  the  Spaniards  seem  to 
have  been  apprehensive  of  delivering  up  their  ships 
thus  entirely  into  the  power  of  such  allies,  and  re- 
fused to  come  out.  The  fleet  from  Cadiz,  however, 
consisting  of  from  seventeen  to  twenty  sail  of  the 
line,  got  out,  urder  Masaredo,  a  man  who  then  bore 
an  honorable  name,  which  he  has  since  rendered  in- 
famous by  betraying  his  country.  They  met  with  a 
violent]  storm  off  the  coast  of  Oran,  which  dis- 
masted many  cf  their  ships,  and  so  effectually  dis- 
abled them,  as  to  prevent  the  junction,  and  frus- 
trate a  well-planned  expedition. 

Before  this  occurred,  and  while  the  junction  was 
as  probable  as  it  would  have  been  formidable,  Nel- 
son was  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  anxiety.  "  What 
a  state  am  I  in ! "  said  he  to  Earl  St.  Vincent.  "  If 
I  go,  I  risk,  and" mire  than  risk,  Sicily:  for  we 
know,  from   experience,  that  more  depends    upon 


180 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m  <» 


tr  IS 


'  'm\ 


'i|!«l 


u'l.iiij  IHIIII  1 


opinion  than  upon  acts  themselves :  and  as  I  stay, 
my  heart  is  breaking."  His  first  business  was  to 
summon  Trowbridge  to  join  him,  with  all  the  ships 
of  the  line  under  his  command,  and  a  frigate,  if 
possible.  Then  hearing  that  the  French  had  en  red 
the  Mediterranean,  and  expecting  them  at  Palermo, 
where  he  had  only  his  own  ship  ; — with  that  single 
ship  he  prepared  to  make  all  the  resistance  possible. 
Trowbridge  having  joined  him,  he  left  Captain  E.  J. 
Foote,  of  the  Seahorse,  to  command  the  smaller 
vessels  in  the  bay  of  Naples,  and  sailed  with  six 
ships ;  one  a  Portuguese,  and  a  Portuguese  corvette ; 
telling  Earl  St.  Vincent  that  the  squadron  should 
never  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  "  And  be- 
fore we  are  destroyed,"  said  he,  "  I  have  little 
doubt  but  they  will  have  their  wings  so  completely 
clipped,  that  they  may  be  easily  overtaken."  It 
was  just  at  this  time  that  he  received  from  Captain 
Hallo  well  the  present  of  the  coffin.  Such  a  present 
was  regarded  by  the  men  with  natural  astonishment : 
one  of  his  old  shipmates  in  the  Agamemnon  said — 
"We  shall  have  hot;  work  of  it  indeed!  You  see 
the  admiral  intends  to  fight  till  he  is  killed ;  and 
there  he  is  to  be  buried."  Nelson  placed  it  upright 
against  the  bulkhead  of  his  cabin,  behind  his  chair, 
where  he  sat  at  dinner.  The  gift  suited  him  at  this 
time.  It  is  said  that  he  was  disappointed  in  the 
son-in-law  whom  he  had  loved  so  dearly  from  his 
childhood,  and  who  had  saved  his  life  at  Teneriffe : 
and  it  is  certain  that  he  had  now  formed  an  infat- 
uated attachment  for  Lady  Hamilton,  which  totally 
weaned  his  affections  from  his  wife.  Farther  than 
this,  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  this  most 
unfortunate  attachment  was  criminal :  but  this  was 
criminality  enough,  and  it  brought  with  it  its  pun- 
ishment. Nelson  was  dissatisfied  with  himself; 
and,  therefore,  weary  of  the  world.     This  feeling 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


181 


this 
the 
his 
L-iffe : 
nfat- 
)tally 
than 
most 
was 
pun- 
iself ; 
jeling 


he  now  frequently  expressed.  "There  is  no  true 
happiness  in  this  life,"  said  he  ;  "  and  in  my  pres- 
ent state  I  could  quit  it  with  a  smile."  And  in  a 
letter  to  his  old  friend  Davison,  he  said :  *'  Believe 
me,  my  only  wish  is  to  sink  with  honor  into  the 
grave ;  and  when  that  shall  please  God,  I  shall  meet 
death  with  a  smile..  Not  that  I  am  insensible  to  the 
honors  and  riches  my  king  and  country  have  heaped 
upon  me — so  much  more  than  any  officer  could 
deserve  ;  yet  am  I  ready  to  quit  this  world  of  trouble, 
and  envy  none  but  those  of  the  estate  six  feet  by 
two." 

Well  had  it  been  for  Nelson  if  he  had  made  no 
other  sacrifices  to  this  unl\appy  attachment  than 
his  peace  of  mind  ;  but  it  led  to  the  only  blot  upon 
•his  public  character.  While  he  sailed  from  Palermo, 
with  the  intention  of  collecting  his  whole  force,  and 
keeping  off  Maretimo,  either  to  receive  reinforce- 
ments there,  if  the  French  were  bound  upwards,  or 
to  hasten  to  Minorca,  if  that  should  be  their  desti- 
nation. Captain  Foote,  in  the  Seahorse,  with  the 
Neapolitan  frigates  and  some  small  vessels  under  his 
command,  was  left  to  act  with  a  land  force  consist- 
ing of  a  few  regular  troops  of  four  different  nations, 
and  with  the  armed  rabble  which  Cardinal  Ruffo 
called  the  Christian  army.  His  directions  were  to 
co-opei'ate  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  with  royalists, 
at  whose  head  Ruffo  had  been  placed,  and  he  had 
no  other  instructions  whatever.  Ruffo  advancing, 
without  any  plan,  but  relying  upon  the  enemj^'s 
want  of  numbers,  which  prevented  them  from  at- 
tempting to  act  upon  the  offensive,  and  ready  to 
take  advantage  of  any  accident  which  might  occur, 
approached  Naples.  Fort  St.  Elmo,  which  com- 
mands the  town,  was  wholly  garrisoned  by  the 
French  troops;  the  castles  of  Uovo  and  Nuovo, 
which  commanded  the  anchorage,  were  chiefly  de- 


.)t  ( 


182 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


-II  ki 


°««i 


l€ 


m 


i-ii\iki\ 


f  UliHil 


111  II  !' 


iiiitPI   » 


fended  by  Neapolitan  revolutionists,  the  powerful 
men  among  them  having  taken  shelter  there.  If 
these  castles  were  taken,  the  reduction  of  fort  St. 
Elmo  would  be  greatly  expedited.  They  were  strong 
places,  and  there  was  reason  to  apprehend  that  the 
French  fleet  might  arrive  to  relieve  them.  Buffo 
proposed  to  the  garrison  to  capitulate,  on  condition 
that  their  persons  and  property  should  be  guaran- 
teed, and  that  they  should,  at  their  own  option, 
either  be  sent  to  Toulon,  or  remain  at  Naples,  with- 
out being  molested  either  in  their  persons  or  fami- 
lies. This  capitulation  was  accepted  :  it  was  signed 
by  the  cardinal,  and  the  Russian  and  Turkish  com- 
manders ;  and,  lastly,  by  Captain  Foote,  as  com- 
mander of  the  British  force.  About  six  and  thirty 
hours  afterwards  Nelson  arrived  in  the  bav,  with  a 
force,  which  had  joined  him  during  his  cruise,  con- 
sisting of  seventeen  sail  of  the  line,  with  1,700 
troops  on  board,  and  the  prince-royal  of  Naples  in 
the  admiral's  ship.  A  flag  of  truce  was  flying  on 
the  castles,  and  on  board  the  Seahorse.  Nelson 
made  a  signal  to  annul  the  treaty ;  declaring  that 
he  would  grant  rebels  no  other  terms,  than  those 
of  unconditional  submission.  The  cardinal  ob- 
jected to  this :  nor  could  all  the  arguments  of 
Nelson,  Sir  William  Hamilton,  and  Lady  Ham- 
ilton, who  took  an  active  part  in  the  conference, 
convince  him  that  a  treaty  of  such  a  nature, 
solemnly  concluded,  could  honorably  be  set  aside. 
He  retired  at  last,  silenced  by  Nelson's  au- 
thority, but  not  convinced.  Captain  Foote  was 
sent  out  of  the  bay  ;  and  the  garrisons,  taken  out  of 
the  castles,  under  pretence  of  carrying  the  treaty 
into  effect,  were  delivered  over  as  rebels  to  the  ven- 
geance of  the  Sicilian  court. — A  deplorable  trans- 
action !  a  stain  upon  the  memory  of  Nelson,  and  the 
honor  of  England !    To  palliate  it  would  be  in  vain : 


was 
it  of 

ity 
Iven- 
I'ans- 

the 
rain: 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


188 


to  justify  it  would  be  wicked :  there  is  no  alterna- 
tive, for  one  who  will  not  make  himself  a  participa- 
tor in  guilt,  but  to  record  the  disgraceful  story  with 
son'o     and  with  shame. 

Pi*inc3  Francesco  Caraccioli,  a  younger  branch  of 
one  of  the  noblest  Neapolitan  families,  escaped  from 
one  of  these  castles  before  it  capitulated.  He  was 
at  the  head  of  the  marine,  and  was  nearly  seventy 
years  of  age,  bearing  a  high  character,  both  for 
professional  and  personal  merit.  He  had  accompa- 
nied the  court  to  Sicily  ;  but  when  the  revolutionary 
government  or  Parthenopaean  Republic,  as  it  was 
called,  issued  an  edict,  ordering  all  absent  Neapoli- 
tans to  return,  on  pain  of  confiscation  of  their 
property,  he  solicited  and  obtained  permission  of 
the  king  to  return,  his  estates  being  very  great.  It 
is  said  that  the  king,  when  he  granted  him  this  per- 
mission, warned  him  not  to  take  any  part  in  politics  ; 
expressing,  at  the  same  time,  his  own  persuasion 
that  he  should  recover  his  kingdom.  But  neither 
the  king,  nor  he  himself,  ought  to  have  imagined 
that  in  such  times,  a  man  of  such  reputation  would 
be  permitted  to  remain  inactive ;  and  it  soon  ap- 
peared that  Caraccioli  was  again  in  con^mand  of  the 
navy,  and  serving  uiJer  the  republic  against  his  late 
sovereign.  The  sail  ji«i  reported  that  he  was  forced 
to  act  thus :  and  this  was  believed,  till  it  was  seen 
that  he  directed  ably  the  offensive  operations  of  the 
revolutionists,  and  did  not  avail  himself  of  oppor- 
tunities for  escaping,  when  they  offered.  When  the 
recovery  of  Naples  was  evidently  near,  he  applied 
to  Cardinal  Ruffo,  and  to  the  Duke  of  Calvirrano, 
for  protection ;  expressing  his  hope,  that  the  few 
days  during  which  he  had  been  forced  to  obey  the 
French,  would  not  outweigh  forty  years  of  faithful 
services : — but,  perha^,.  not  receiving  such  assur- 
ances as  he  wished,  and  knowing  too  well  the  tem- 


f 


t 


\ 


'>■  i 


184 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


*  'li*i 


per  of  the  Sicilian  court,  he  endeavored  to  secrete 
himself,  una  price  was  set  upon  his  head.  More 
unfortunately  for  others  than  for  hirn  pilf,  he  was 
brought  in  alive,  having  been  discovf  rod  in  the  dis- 
guise of  a  peasant,  and  carried  one  morning  on 
board  Lord  Nelson's  ship,  with  his  hands  tied  behind 
him. 

Caraccioli  was  well  known  to  the  British  officers, 
and  had  been  ever  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him.  Captain  Hardy  ordered  him  immediately  to 
be  unbound,  and  to  be  treated  with  all  those  atten- 
tions which  he  felt  due  to  a  man  who,  when  last  on 
board  the  Foudro;yant,  had  been  received  as  an  ad- 
miral and  a  prince.  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamil- 
ton were  in  the  ship ;  but  Nelson,  it  is  affirmed, 
saw  no  one  except  his  own  officers,  during  the  tragedy 
which  ensued.  His  own  determination  was  made ; 
and  he  issued  an  order  to  the  Neapolitan  commodore. 
Count  Thurn,  to  assemble  a  court-martial  of  Nea- 
politan officers  on  board  the  British  flag-ship,  pro- 
ceed 'mmediately  to  try  the  prisoner,  and  report  to 
him,  if  the  charges  were  proved,  what  punishment 
he  o  lyht  to  suffer.  These  proceedings  were  as  rapid 
as  possible :  Caraccioli  was  brought  on  board  at  nine 
in  the  forenoon,  and  the  trial  began  at  ten.  It 
lasted  two  hours :  he  averred,  in  his  defense,  that  he 
had  acted  under  compulsion,  having  been  compelled 
to  serve  as  a  common  soldier,  till  he  consented  to 
take  command  of  the  fleet.  This,  the  apologists  of 
Lord  Nelson  say,  he  failed  in  proving.  They  forget 
that  the  possibility  of  proving  it  was  not  allowed 
him;  for  he  was  brought  to  trial  within  an  hour 
after  he  was  legally  in  an  est ;  and  how,  in  that  time, 
was  he  to  collect  his  witnesses?  He  was  found 
guilty,,  and  sentenced  to  death ;  and  Nelson  gave 
orders  that  the  sentence  should  be  carried  into  effect 
that  evening  at  five  o'clock,  on  board  the  Sicilian 


iV  I, 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


frigate,  La  Miuerva,  by  hanging  him  at  the  fore- 
yard-arm  till  sunset;  wl  n  the  body  was  to  be  cut 
down,  and  thrown  into  the  sea.  Caraccioli  re- 
quested Lieutenant  Parkinson,  under  whose  custody 
he  was  placed,  to  inter -ode  w^ith  Lord  Nelson  for  a 
second  trial, — for  this,  'mong  other  reasons,  that 
Count  Thurn,  who  M-esidd  at  the  court-martial, 
was  notoriously   as  u     nemy.     Nelson  made 

answer,  that  the  pr  so  d  been  fairly  tried  by  the 

officers  of  his  own  ,  ;'n<I  he  could  not  inter- 

fere :  forgetting  tii  a,         e  lelt  himself  justified  in 


ordering  the  trial    aii 


execution,  no   human 


being  could  ever  have  questioned  the  propriety  of  his 
interfering  on  the  side  of  mercy.  Caraccioli  then 
entreated  that  he  might  be  shot. — "I  am  an  old 
man,  sir,"  said  he,  *'I  leave  no  family  to  lament 
me,  and  therefore  cannot  be  supposed  to  be  very 
anxious  about  prolonging  my  life  ;  but  the  disgrace 
of  being  hanged  is  dreadful  to  me."  When  this  was 
repeated  to  Nelson,  he  only  told  the  lieutenant,  with 
much  agitation,  to  go  and  attend  his  duty.  As  a 
last  hope,  Caraccioli  asked  the  lieutenant,  if  he 
thought  an  application  to  Lady  Hamilton  would  be 
beneficial  ?  Parkinson  went  to  seek  her.  She  was 
not  to  be  seen  on  this  occasion, — but  she  was  pre- 
sent at  the  execution.  She  had  the  most  devoted 
attachment  to  the  Neapolitan  court ;  and  the  hatred 
which  she  felt  against  those  whom  she  regarded  as 
its  enemies,  made  her,  at  this  time,  forget  what  was 
due  to  the  character  of  her  sex,  as  well  as  of  her 
country.  Here,  also,  a  faithful  historian  is  called 
upon  to  pronounce  a  severe  and  unqualified  con- 
demnation of  Nelson's  conduct.  Had  he  the  authority 
of  his  Sicilian  Majesty  for  proceeding  as  he  did  ?  If 
so,  why  was  not  that  authority  produced  ?  If  not, 
why  were  the  proceedings  hurried  on  without  it? 
Why  was  the  trial  precipitated,  so  that  it  was  impos- 


■ 

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Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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<^'^^ 


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186 


THE  LIPE  OF  NELSON. 


it 


Bible  for  the  prisoner,  if  he  had  been  innocent,  to 
provide  the  witnesses  who  might  have  proved  him 
so?  Why  was  a  second  trial  refused,  when  the 
known  animosity  of  the  president  of  the  court  against 
the  prisoner  was  considered?  Why  was  the  execu- 
tion hastened  so  as  to  preclude  any  appeal  for  mercy, 
and  render  the  prerogative  of  mercy  useless  ?  Doubt- 
less, the  British  Admu'al  seemed  to  himself  to  be 
acting  under  a  rigid  sense  of  justice ;  but,  to  all 
other  persons,  it  was  obvious,  that  he  was  influenced 
by  an  iniatuated  attachment — a  baneful  passion, 
which  destroyed  his  domestic  happiness,  and  now, 
in  a  second  instance,  stained  ineffaceably  his  public 
character. 

The  body  was  carried  out  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, and  sunk  in  the  bay,  with  three  double- 
headed  shot,  weighing  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
tied  to  its  legs.  Between  two  and  three  weeks  after- 
wards, when  the  king  was  on  board  the  Foudroyant, 
a  Neapolitan  fisherman  came  to  the  ship,  and 
solemnly  declared,  thai.  Caraccioli  had  risen  from  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  and  was  coming,  as  fast  as  he 
could,  to  Naples,  swimming  half  out  of  the  water. 
Such  an  account  was  listened  to  like  a  tale  of  idle 
credulity.  The  day  being  f ah*.  Nelson,  to  please  the 
king,  stood  out  to  sea ;  but  the  ship  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  before  a  body  was  distinctly  seen,  upright 
in  the  water,  and  approaching  them.  It  was  soon 
recognized  to  be,  indeed,  the  corpse  of  Caraccioli, 
which  had  risen,  and  floated,  while  the  great  weights 
attached  to  the  legs,  kept  the  body  in  a  position  like 
that  of  a  living  man.  A  fact  so  extraordinary 
astonished  the  king,  and  perhaps  excited  some  feel- 
ing of  superstitious  fear,  akin  to  regret.  He  gave 
permission  for  the  body  to  be  taken  on  shore,  and 
receive  Christian  burial.  It  produced  no  better  effect. 
Naples  exhibited  more  dreadful  scenes  than  it  had 


-I 


'? 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m 


witnessed  in  the  days  of  Massaniello.  After  the  mob 
had  had  their  fill  of  blood  and  plunder,  the  reins 
were  given  to  justice — if  that  can  be  called  justice 
which  annuls  its  own  stipulations,  looks  to  the  naked 
facts  alone,  disregarding  all  motives  and  all  circum- 
stances ;  and,  without  considering  character  or  sci- 
ence, or  sex  or  youth,  sacrifices  its  victims,  not  for 
the  public  weal,  but  for  the  gratification  of  greedy 
vengeance. 

The  castles  of  St.  Elmo,  Gaieta,  and  Capua,  re- 
mained to  be  subdued.  On  the  land  side,  there  was 
no  danger  that  the  French  in  these  garrisons  should 
be  relieved,  for  Souvorof  was  now  beginning  to  drive 
the  enemy  before  him  ;  but  Nelson  thought  his  pre- 
sence necessary  in  the  bay  of  Naples :  and  when 
Lord  Keith,  having  received  intelligence  that  the 
French  and  Spanish  fleets  had  formed  a  junction,  and 
sailed  for  Carthagena,  ordered  him  to  repair  to 
Minorca,  with  the  whole,  or  the  greater  part  of  his 
force,  he  sent  Admiral  Duckworth  with  a  small  part 
only.  This  was  a  dilemma  which  he  had  foreseen. 
''  Should  such  an  order  come  at  this  moment,"  he 
said,  in  a  letter  previously  written  to  the  admiralty, 
"  it  would  be  a  case  for  some  consideration,  whether 
Minorca  is  to  be  risked,  or  the  two  kingdoms  of 
Naples  and  Sicily :  I  rather  think  my  decision  would 
be  to  risk  the  former."  And,  after  he  had  acted 
upon  this  opinion,  be  wrote  in  these  terms  to  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  with  whose  high  notions  of 
obedience  he  was  well  acquainted:  "I  am  well 
aware  of  the  consequences  of  disobeying  my  orders ; 
but  as  I  have  often  before  risked  my  life  for  the 
good  cause,  so  I,  with  cheerfulness,  did  my  com- 
mission ;  for,  although  a  military  tribunal  may  think 
me  criminal,  the  world  will  approve  of  my  conduct : 
and  I  regard  not  my  own  safety,  when  the  honor  of 
my  king  is  at  stake."  -    ^  ^ 


■/: 


188 


THE  MFB  OP  NELSON. 


Nelson  was  right  in  his  judgment:  no  attempt 
was  made  upon  Minorca ;  and  the  expulsion  of  the 
French  from  Naples  may  rather  be  said  to  have 
been  effected,  than  accelerated,  by  the  English  and 
Portuguese  of  the  allied  fleet,  acting  upon  shore, 
under  Trowbridge.  The  French  commandant  at  St. 
Elmo,  relying  upon  the  strength  of  the  place,  and 
the  nature  of  the  force  which  attacked  it,  had  in- 
sulted Captain  Foote  in  the  grossest  terms:  but 
citoyen  Mejan  was  soon  taught  better  manners,  when 
Trowbridge,  in  spite  of  every  obstacle,  opened*  five 
batteries  upon  the  fort.  He  was  informed,  that 
none  of  his  letters,  with  the  insolent  printed  words 
at  the  top,  L'iberte^  Egalite^  Guei^e  aux  Tyrans,  etc., 
would  be  received  ;  but  that,  if  he  wrote  like  a  soldier 
and  a  gentleman,  he  should  be  answered  in  the  same 
style.  The  Frenchman  then  began  to  flatter  his 
antagonist  upon  the  bienfaisance  and  humanite, 
which,  he  said,  were  the  least  of  the  many  virtues 
which  distinguished  Monsieur  Trowbridge.  Monsieur 
Trowbridge's  bienfaisance  was,  at  this  time,  think- 
ing of  mining  the  fort.  —  "If  we  can  accomplish 
that,"  said  he,  *^  T  am  a  strong  advocate  to  send 
them,  hostages  and  »^^  *o  Old  Nick,  and  sui'prise  him 
with  a  group  of  n^^  ^y  and  republicans.  Mean- 
time," he  added,  "  it  was  some  satisfaction  to  per- 
ceive that  the  shells  fell  well,  and  broke  some  of 
their  shins."  Finally,  to  complete  his  character 
Mejan  offered  to  surrender  for  150,000  ducats. 
Great  Britain,  perhaps,  has  made  but  too  little  use 
of  this  kind  of  artillery,  which  France  has  found  so 
effectual  towards  subjugating  the  continent:  but 
Trowbridge  had  the  prey  within  his  reach ;  and,  in 
the  course  of  a  few  days,  his  last  battery,  "  after 
much  trouble  and  palaver,"  as  he  said,  "  brought 
the  vagabonds  to  their  senses." 

Trowbridge  had  more  diflElculties  to  overcome  in 


1 

1\ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


180 


I 


I  m 


this  siege,  from  the  character  of  the  Neapolitans 
vrho  pretended  to  assist  him,  and  whom  he  made 
useful,  than  even  from  the  strength  of  the  place  and 
the  skill  of  the  French.  *'  Such  damned  cowards 
and  villains,"  he  declared,  "he  had  never  seen  be- 
fore." The  men  at  the  advanced  posts  carried  on, 
what  he  called,  "  a  diabolical  good  understanding" 
with  the  enemy,  and  the  workmen  would  sometimes 
take  fright  and  run  away.  "  I  make  the  best  I 
can,"  said  he,  "  of  the  degenerate  race  I  have  to 
deal  with:  the  whole  means  of  guns,  ammunition, 
pioneers,  etc.,  with  all  materials,  rest  with  them. 
With  fair  promises  to  the  men,  and  threats  of  in- 
stant death  if  I  found  any  one  eiTing,  a  little  spur 
has  been  given."  Nelson  said  of  him,  with  truth, 
upon  this  occasion,  that  he  was  a  first-rate  general. 
"  I  find,  sir,"  said  he  afterwards,  in  a  letter  to  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  *'  that  General  Koehler  does  not 
approve  of  such  irregular  proceedings  as  naval 
oflScers  attacking  and  defending  fortifications.  We 
have  but  one  idea, — to  get  close  alongside.  None 
but  a  sailor  would  have  placed  a  battery  only  one 
hundred  and  eighty  yards  from  the  castle  of  St. 
Elmo :  a  soldier  must  have  gone  according  to  art, 

and  the  way.     My  brave  Trowbridge  went 

straight  on,  for  we  had  no  time  to  spai*e." 

Trowbridge  then  proceeded  to  Capua,  and  took 
the  command  of  the  motley  besieging  force.  One 
thousand  of  the  best  men  in  the  fleet  were  sent  to 
assist  in  the  siege.  Just  at  this  time  Nelson  re- 
ceived a  peremptory  order  from  Lord  Keith,  to  sail 
with  the  whole  of  his  force  for  the  protection  of 
Minorca ;  or,  at  least,  to  retain  no  more  than  was 
absolutely  necessary  at  Sicily.  "  You  will  easily 
conceive  my  feelings,"  said  he,  in  communicating 
this  to  Earl  St.  Vincent:  "but  my  mind,  as  your 
lordship  knows,   was  perfectly  prepared  for  this 


11 


190 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


M    » 


I 


order,  and  it  is  now,  more  than  ever,  made  up.  At 
this  moment  I  will  not  part  with  a  single  ship ;  as  I 
cannot  do  that  without  di'awing  a  hundred  and 
twenty  men  from  each  ship,  now  at  the  siege  of 
Capua.  I  am  fully  aware  of  the  act  I  have  corner 
mitted  ;  but  I  am  prepared  for  any  fate  which  may 
await  my  disobedience.  Capua  and  Gaieta  will 
soon  fall ;  and  the  moment  the  scoundrels  of  French 
are  out  of  this  kingdom,  I  shall  send  eight  or  nine 
ships  of  the  line  to  Minoi'ca.  I  have  done  what  I 
thought  right :  others  may  think  differently :  but  it 
will  be  my  consolation  that  I  have  gained  a  king- 
dom, seated  a  faithful  ally  of  his  majesty  fiimly  on 
bis  throne,  and  restored  happiness  to  millions.'' 

At  Capua,  Trowbridge  had  the  same  difficulties  as 
at  St.  Elmo ;  and  being  farther  from  Naples,  and 
from  the  fleet,  was  less  able  ta  overcome  them. 
The  powder  was  so  bad  that  he  suspected  treachery : 
and  when  he  asked  Nelson  to  spare  him  forty  casks 
from  the  ships,  he  told  him  it  would  be  necessary 
that  some  Englishmen  should  accompany  it,  or  they 
would  steal  one  half,  and  change  the  other.  '^  Every 
man,  you  see,'*  said  he,  *' gentle  and  simple,  are 
such  notorious  villains,  that  it  is  a  misery  to  be  with 
them."  Capua,  howevfer,  soon  fell.  Gaieta  imme- 
diately afterwards  surrendered  to  Captain  Louis  of 
the  Minotaur.  Here  the  commanding  officer  acted 
more  unlike  a  Frenchman,  Captain  Louis  said,  than 
any  one  he  had  ever  met;  meaning  that  he  acted 
like  a  man  of  honor.  He  required,  however,  that 
the  gan'ison  should  carry  away  their  horses  and 
other  pillaged  property:  to  which  Nelson  replied, 
*'  That  no  property  which  they  did  not  bring  with 
them  into  the  country  could  be  theirs  ;  and  that  the 
greatest  care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  them  frpm 
can'ying  it  away." — "  I  am  sorry,"  said  he  to  Cap- 
this  Louis,  <*  that  you  have  entered  into  any  alter- 


x:i. 


THB  UFB  OF  NELSON. 


191 


3ted 
that 
and 
Led, 
rith 
I  the 
L'Qm 
fap- 


cation.  There  is  no  way  of  dealing  with  a  French- 
man hut  to  knock  him  down :  to  be  civil  to  them  is 
only  to  be  latighed  at,  when  they  are  enemies." 

The  whole  kingdom  of  Naples  was  thus  delivered 
by  Nelson  from  the  French.  The  admiralty,  how- 
ever, thought  it  expedient  to  censure  him  for  dis- 
obeying Lord  Keith's  orders,  and  thus  hazarding 
Minorca,  without,  as  it  appeared  to  them,  any  suffi- 
cient reason ;  and  also  for  having  landed  seamen  for 
the  siege  of  Capua,  to  form  part  of  an  army 
employed  in  operations  at  a  distance  from  the  coast ; 
where,  in  case  of  defeat,  they  might  have  been  pre- 
vented from  returning  to  their  ships ;  and  they 
enjoined  him,  ^^  not  to  employ  the  seamen  in  like 
manner  in  future."  This  reprimand  was  issued  be- 
fore the  event  was  known;  though,  indeed,  the 
event  would  not  affect  the  principle  upon  which  it 
proceeded.  When  Nelson  communicated  the  tidings 
of  his  complete  success,  he  said,  in  his  public  letter, 
"  that  it  would  not  be  the  less  acceptable  for  having 
been  principally  brought  about  by  British  sailors." 
His  judgment  in  thus  employing  them  had  been  jus- 
tified by  the  result;  and  his  joy  was  evidently 
heightened  by  the  gratification  of  a  professional  and 
becoming  pride.  To  the  first  lord,  he  said,  at  the 
same  time,  ^^  I  certainly,  from  having  only  a  left 
hand,  cannot  enter  into  details  which  may  explain 
the  motives  that  actuated  my  conduct.  My  prin- 
ciple is,  to  assist  in  di'iving  the  French  to  the  devil, 
and  in  restoring  peace  and  happiness  to  mankind. 
I  feel  that  I  am  fitter  to  do  the  action  than  to 
describe  it."  He  then  added,  that  he  would  take 
care  of  Minorca. 

In  expelling  the  French  from  Naples,  Nelson  had, 
with  characteristic  zeal  and  abilty,  discharged  his 
duty ;  but  he  deceived  himself,  when  he  imagined 
that  he  had  seated  Ferdinand  firmly  on  his  throne, 


I  / 


m 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


1  ■> 


U 


and  that  he  had  restored  happiness  to  millions. 
These  objects  might  have  been  accomplished  if  it 
had  been  possible  to  inspire  virtue  and  wisdom  into 
a  vicious  and  infatuated  court;  and  if  Nelson's 
eyes  had  not  been  as  it  were  spell-bound  by  that  un- 
happy attachment  which  had  now  completely  mas- 
tered him,  he  would  have  seen  things  as  they  were ; 
and  might,  perhaps,  have  awakened  the  Sicilian 
court  to  a  sense  of  their  interest,  if  not  of  their 
duty.  That  court  employed  itself  in  a  miserable 
round  of  folly  and  festivity,  while  the  prisons  of 
Naples  were  filled  with  groans,  and  the  scaffolds 
streamed  with  blood.  St.  Januarius  was  solemnly 
removed  from  his  rank  as  patron  saint  of  the  king- 
dom, having  been  convicted  of  Jacobinism ;  and  St. 
Antonio  as  solemnly  installed  in  his  place.  The 
king,  instead  of  re-establishing  order  at  Naples  by 
his  presence,  speedily  returned  to  Palermo,  to  in- 
dulge in  his  favorite  amusements.  Nelson,  and  the 
ambassador's  family,  accompanied  the  court;  and 
Trowbridge  remained,  groaning  over  the  villany  and 
frivolity  of  those  with  whom  he  was  compelled  to 
deal.  A  party  of  officers  applied  to  him  for  a  pas- 
sage to  Palermo,  to  see  the  procession  of  St.  Rosa- 
lia : — he  recommended  them  to  exercise  their  troops, 
and  not  behave  like  children.  It  was  grief  enough 
for  him  that  the  court  should  be  busied  in  these  fol- 
lies, and  Nelson  involved  in  them.  "I  dread,  my 
lord,"  said  he,  *'  all  the  feasting,  etc.,  at  Palermo. 
I  am  sure  your  health  will  be  hurt.  If  so,  all  theu' 
saints  will  be  damned  by  the  navy.  The  king  would 
be  better  employed  digesting  a  good  government : 
everything  gives  way  to  their  pleasures.  The  money 
spent  at  Palermo  gives  discontent  here :  fifty  thou- 
sand people  are  unemployed,  trade  discouraged, 
manufactures  at  a  stand.  It  is  the  interest  of  many 
here  to  keep  the  king  away ; — they  all  dread  reform : 


THE  MFB  OP  NELSON. 


108 


pas- 
>sa- 


•  I 


their  villanics  are  so  deeply  rooted,  that,  if  some 
method  is  not  taken  to  dig  them  out,  this  govern- 
ment cannot  hold  together.  Out  of  twenty  millions 
of  ducats,  collected  as  the  revenue,  only  thirteen 
millions  reach  the  treasury  ;  and  the  king  pays  four 
ducats  where  he  should  pay  one.  He  is  surrounded 
by  thieves ;  and  none  of  them  have  honor  or  hon- 
esty enough  to  tell  him  the  real  and  true  state  of 
things."  In  another  letter,  he  expressed  his  sense 
of  the  miserable  state  of  Naples.  "  There  are  up- 
wards of  forty  thousand  families,"  said  he,  ^^  who 
have  relations  confined.  If  some  act  of  oblivion  is 
not  passed,  there  will  be  no  end  of  persecution ; 
for  the  people  of  this  country  have  no  idea  of  any- 
thing but  revenge ;  and,  to  gain  a  point,  would 
swear  ten  thousand  false  oaths.  Constant  efforts 
are  made  to  get  a  man  taken  up  in  order  to  rob  him. 
The  confiscated  property  does  not  reach  the  king's 
treasury. — All  thieves!  It  is  selling  for  nothing. 
His  own  people,  whom  he  employs,  are  buying  it  up, 
and  the  vagabonds  pocket  the  whole.  I  should  not 
be  Bui'prised  to  hear  that  they  brought  a  bill  of 
expenses  against  him  for  the  sale." 

The  Sicilian  court,  however,  were  at  this  time 
duly  sensible  of  the  services  which  had  been  ren- 
dered them  by  the  British  fleet,  and  their  gratitude 
to  Nelson  was  shown  v  ith  proper  and  princely  mu- 
nificence. They  gave  him  the  Dukedom  and  domain 
of  Bronte,  worth  about  £3,000  a-year.  It  was  some 
days  before  he  could  be  persuaded  to  accept  it :  the 
argument  which  finally  prevailed,  is  said  to  have 
been  suggested  by  the  queen,  and  urged  at  her  re- 
quest, by  Lady  Hamilton,  upon  her  knees.  *'  He 
considered  his  own  honor  too  much,"  she  said,  ^^  if 
he  persisted  in  refusing  what  the  king  and  queen 
felt  to  be  absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation 
of  theirs."    The  king  himself,  also,  is  said  to  have 


■♦...*  I', 


IM 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


''M 


addressed  him  in  words,  which  show  that  the  sense 
of  rank  will  sometimes  confer  a  virtue  upon  those 
who  seem  to  be  most  unworthy  of  the  lot  to  which 
they  have  been  born :  "  Lord  Nelson,  do  you  wish 
that  your  name  alone  should  pass  with  honor  to 
posterity ;  and  that  I,  Ferdinand  Bourbon,  should 
appear  ungrateful  ?  "  He  gave  him,  also,  when  the 
dukedom  was  accepted,  a  diamond-hilted  sword, 
which  his  father,  Charles  III.  of  Spain,  had  given 
him,  on  his  accession  to  the  throne  of  the  Two 
Sicilies.  Nelson  said,  ^^  the  reward  was  magnificent, 
and  worthy  of  a  king,  and  he  was  determined  that 
the  inhabitants  on  the  domain  should  be  the  happi- 
est tin  all  his  Sicilian  Majesty's  dominions. — ^Yet," 
said  he,  speaking  of  these  and  the  other  remunera- 
tions which  were  made  him  for  his  services,  '^  these 
presents,  rich  as  they  are,  do  not  elevate  me.  My 
pride  is,  that,  at  Constantinople,  from  the  grand 
seignior  to  the  lowest  Turk,  the  name  of  Nelson  is 
familiar  in  their  mouths  ;  and  in  this  country  I  am 
everything  which  a  grateful  monarch  and  people 
can  call  me."  Nelson,  however,  had  a  pardonable 
pride  in  the  outward  and  visible  signs  of  honor,  which 
he  had  so  fairly  won.  He  was  fond  of  his  Sicilian 
title  ;  the  signification,  perhaps,  pleased  him ; — 
Duke  of  Thunder  was  what  in  Dahomy  would  be 
called  a  strong  name ;  it  was  to  a  sailor's  taste ; 
and,  certainly,  to  no  man  could  it  ever  be  more  ap- 
plicable. But  a  simple  offering,  which  he  received 
not  long  afterwards,  from  the  island  of  Zante, 
affected  him  with  a  deeper  and  finer  feeling.  The 
Greeks  of  that  little  community  sent  him  a  gold- 
headed  sword,  and  a  truncheon,  set  round  with  all 
the  diamonds  that  the  island  could  furnish,  in  a 
single  row.  They  thanked  him  *'  for  having,  by 
his  victory,  preserved  that  part  of  Greece  froni  the 
horrors  of  anarchy ;   and  prayed  that  his  exploits 


%    ' 


\: 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSOK. 


106 


386 

Dse 
ich 
ish 
to 
.uld 
the 
3rd, 
iven 
rwo 
ent, 
that 
ippi- 
et,        . 
iera- 
^hese 
My 
;rand 
on  is 
I  am 
leople 
liable 
vhich 
cilian 
m;— 
d  be 
aste ; 
fe  ap- 
leived 
^ante, 

The 
Igold- 
[th  all 

in   a 

by 

the 
Iploits 


1. 1 


might  accelerate  the  day,  in  which,  amidst  the  glory 
and  peace  of  thrones,  the  miseries  of  the  human 
race  would  cease."  This  unexpected  tribute  touched 
Nelson  to  the  heart.  "  No  officer."  he  said,  "  had 
ever  received  from  any  country  a  higher  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  services." 

The  French  still  occupied  the  Roman  states ;  from 
which,  according  to  their  own  admission,  they  had 
extorted,  in  jewels,  plate,  specie,  and  requisitions 
of  every  kind,  to  the  enormous  amount  of  eight 
millions  sterling:  yet  they  afCected  to  appear  as 
deliverers  among  the  people  whom  they  were  thus 
cruelly  plundering ;  and  they  distributed  portraits 
of  Bonaparte,  with  the  blasphemous  inscription — 
**  This  is  the  true  likeness  of  the  holy  saviour  of  the 
world ! "  The  people  detesting  the  impiety,  and 
groaning  beneath  the  exactions  of  these  perfidious 
robbers,  were  ready  to  join  any  regular  force  that 
should  come  to  their  assistance ;  but  they  dreaded 
Cardinal  Ruflfo's  rabble,  and  declared  they  would 
resist  him  as  a  bandit,  who  came  only  for  the  pur- 
pose of  pillage.  Nelson  perceived  that  no  object 
was  now  so  essential  for  the  tranquillity  of  Naples 
as  the  recovery  of  Rome ;  which,  in  the  present 
state  of  things,  when  Suvarof  was  driving  the 
French  before  him,  would  complete  the  deliverance 
of  Italy.  He  applied,  therefore,  to  Sir  James  St. 
Clair  Erskine,  who,  in  the  absence  of  General  Fox, 
commanded  at  Minorca,  to  assist  in  this  great  ob- 
ject with  twelve  hundred  men.  **  The  field  of 
glory,"  said  he,  "  is  a  large  one,  and  was  never 
more  open  to  any  one,  than  at  this  moment  to  you. 
Rome  would  throw  open  her  gates,  and  receive  you 
as  her  deliverer :  and  the  pope  would  owe  his  resto- 
ration to  a  heretic."  But  Sir  James  Erskine  looked 
only  at  the  difficulties  of  the  undertaking.  "Twelve 
hundred  men,  he  thought,  would  be  too  small  a 


y/':- 


w 


106 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


force  to  be  committed  in  snch  an  enterprise;  for 
Civita  Vecchia  was  a  regular  fortress ; — the  local 
situation  and  climate  also  were  such,  that,  even  if 
this  force  were  adequate,  it  would  be  proper  to  de- 
lay the  expedition  till  October.  General  Fox,  too, 
was  soon  expected ;  and  during  his  absence,  and 
under  existing  circumstances,  he  did  not  feel  justi- 
fied in  sending  away  such  a  detachment." 

What  this  general  thought  it  imprudent  to  at- 
tempt, Nelson  and  Trowbridge  effected  without  his 
assistance,  by  a  small  detachment  from  the  fleet. 
Trowbridge  first  sent  Captain  Hallowell  to  Civita 
Vecchia,  to  offer  the  garrison  there,  and  at  Castle 
St.  Angelo,  the  same  terms  which  had  been  granted 
to  Gaieta.  Hallowell  perceived,  by  the  overstrained 
civility  of  the  officers  who  came  off  to  him,  and  the 
compliments  which  they  paid  to  the  English  nation, 
that  they  were  sensible  of  their  own  weakness,  and 
their  inability  to  offer  any  effectual  resistance ;  but 
the  French  know,  that  while  they  are  in  a  condition 
to  serve  their  government,  they  can  rely  upon  it  for 
every  possible  exertion  in  their  suppoii; ;  and  this 
reliance  gives  them  hope  and  confidence  to  the  last. 
Upon  Hallowell's  report,  Trowbridge,  who  had  now 
been  made  Sir  Thomas  for  his  services,  sent  Cap- 
tain Louis  with  a  squadron,  to  enforce  the  teims 
which  he  had  offered  ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  could  leave 
Naples,  he  himself  followed.  The  French,  who  had  - 
no  longer  any  hope  from  the  fate  of  arms,  relied 
upon  their  skill  in  negotiation,  and  proposed  terms  ' 
to  Trowbridge  with  that  effrontery  which  character- 
izes their  public  proceedings ;  but  which  is  as  often 
successful  as  it  is  impudent.  They  had  a  man  of 
the  right  stamp  to  deal  with.  Their  ambassador  at 
Bome  began  by  saying,  that  the  Roman  territory 
was  the  property  of  the  French  by  right  of  con- 
quest.   The  British  commodore  settled  that  point, 


"V 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


^y 


m 


•^  ■,  ■ 


.■>'' 


bv  replying,  **  It  is  mine  by  re-conquest."  A  capit- 
ulation was  soon  concluded  for  all  the  Roman  states, 
and  Captain  Louis  rowed  up  the  Tiber  in  his  barge, 
hoisted  English  colors  on  the  capitol,  and  acted,  for 
the  time,  as  governor  of  Rome.  The  prophesy  of 
the  Irish  poet  was  thus  accomplished,  and  the  friar 
reaped  the  fruits :  for  Nelson,  who  was  struck  with 
the  oddity  of  the  circumstance,  and  not  a  little 
pleased  with  it,  obtained  preferment  for  him  from 
the  king  of  Sicily,  and  recommended  him  to  the 
pope. 

Having  thus  completed  his  work  upon  the  conti- 
nent of  Italy,  Nelson's  whole  attention  was  directed 
towards  Malta ;  where  Captain  Ball,  with  most  in- 
adequate means,  was  besieging  the  French  garrison. 
Ne  «rer  was  any  officer  engaged  in  a  more  anxious 
and  painful  service  :  the  smallest  reinforcement  from 
France  would,  at  any  moment,  have  turned  the  scale 
against  him :  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  consum- 
nate  ability,  and  the  love  and  veneration  with  which 
the  Maltese  regarded  him,  Malta  must  have  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Men,  money,  food ;  all 
things  were  wanting.  The  gamson  consisted  of 
five  thousand  troops ; — the  besieging  force,  of  five 
hundred  English  and  Portuguese  marines,  and  about 
fifteen  hundred  armed  peasants.  Long  and  repeat- 
edly did  Nelson  solicit  troops  to  effect  the  reduction 
of  this  important  place.  "  It  has  been  no  fault  of 
the  navy,"  said  he,  ^'  that  Malta  has  not  been  at- 
tacked by  land ;  but  we  have  neither  the  means  our- 
selves, nor  influence  with  those  who  have."  The 
same  causes  of  demurral  existed  which  prevented 
British  troops  from  assisting  in  the  expulsion  of  the 
French  from  Rome.  Sir  James  Erskine  was  expect- 
ing General  Fox,  he  could  not  act  without  orders; 
and  not  having,  like  Nelson,  that  lively  spring  of 
hope   within  him,   which  partakes  enough  of  the 


\^ 


i'   i 


.? 


i« 


.»« 


198 


THE  lAFE  OP  NELSON. 


nature  of  faith  to  work  miracles  in  war,  he  thought 
it  "  evident,  that  unless  a  respectable  land  force,  in 
numbers  sufficient  to  undertake  the  siege  of  such  a 
garrison,  in  one  of  the  strongest  places  of  Europe, 
and  supplied  with  proportionate  artillery  and  stores, 
were  sent  against  it,  no  reasonable  hope  could  be 
entertained  of  its  surrender."  Nelson  groaned  over 
the  spirit  of  over-reasoning  caution,  and  unreason- 
ing obedience.  "My  heart,"  said  he,  "is  almost 
broken.  If  the  enemy  gets  supplies  in,  we  may  bid 
adieu  to  Malta : — all  the  force  we  can  collect  would 
then  be  of  little  use  against  the  strongest  place  in 
Europe. — To  say  that  an  officer  is  never,  for  any 
object,  to  alter  his  orders,  is  what  I  cannot  compre- 
hend. The  circumstances  of  this  war  so  often  vary, 
that  an  officer  has  almost  every  moment  to  consider. 
What  would  my  superiors  direct,  did  they  know 
what  is  passing  under  my  nose?  But,  sir,"  said  he, 
writing  to  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  "  I  find  few  think 
as  I  do.  To  obey  orders  is  all  perfection.  To 
serve  my  king,  and  to  destroy  the  French,  I  con- 
sider as  the  great  order  of  all,  from  which  little 
ones  spring :  and  if  one  of  these  militate  against  it 
(for  who  can  tell  exactly  at  a  distance  ?) ,  I  go  back, 
and  obey  the  great  order  and  object,  to  down — 
down  with  the  damned  French  villains ! — My  blood 
boils  at  the  name  of  Frenchman ! "  i 

At  length  General  Fox  arrived  at  Minorca,  and, 
at  length,  permitted  Colonel  Graham  to  go  to  Malta, 
but  with  means  miserably  limited.  In  fact,  the 
expedition  was  at  a  stand  for  want  of  money ;  when 
Trowbridge  arriving  at  Messina,  to  co-operate  in  it, 
and  finding  this  fresh  delay,  immediately  offered  all 
that  he  could  command  of  his  own.  "I  procured 
him,  my  lord,"  said  he  to  Nelson,  *'  fifteen  thousand 
of  my  cobs: — every  farthing,  and  every  atom  of 
me  shall  be  devoted  to  the  cause." — "What  can 


..     i 


-t<^     ; 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


100 


all 
:ed 
,iid 
of 
eaD 


this  mean,"  said  Nelson,  when  he  learnt  that  Col- 
onel Graham  was  ordered  not  to  incur  any  expense 
for  stores,  or  any  articles  except  provisions ! — "  the 
cause  cannot  stand  still  for  want  of  a  little  money. 
If  nobody  will  pay  it,  I  will  sell  Bronte,  and  the 
Emperor  of  Russia's  box."  And  he  actually 
pledged  Bronte  for  £6,600,  if  there  should  be  any 
difficulty  about  paying  the  bills.  The  long  delayed 
expedition  was  thus,  at  last,  sent  forth :  but  Trow- 
bridge little  imagined  in  what  scenes  of  misery  he 
was  to  bear  his  part.  He  looked  to  Sicily  for  sup- 
plies :  it  was  the  interest,  as  well  as  the  duty,  of  the 
Sicilian  government  to  use  every  exertion  for  fur- 
nishing them :  and  Nelson,  and  the  British  ambas- 
sador, were  on  the  spot  to  press  upon  them  the 
necessity  of  exertion.  But  though  Nelson  saw  with 
what  a  knavish  crew  the  Sicilian  court  was  sur- 
rounded, he  was  blind  to  the  vices  of  the  court 
itself ;  and  resigning  himself  wholly  to  Lady  Ham- 
ilton's influence,  never  even  suspected  the  crooked 
policy  which  it  was  remorselessly  pursuing.  The 
Maltese,  and  the  British  in  Malta,  severely  felt  it. 
Trowbridge,  who  had  the  truest  affection  for  Nel- 
son, knew  his  infatuation,  and  feared  that  it  might 
prove  injurious  to  his  character,  as  well  as  fatal  to 
an  enterprise,  which  had  begun  so  well,  and  been 
carried  on  so  patiently.  *'  My  lord,"  said  he,  writ- 
ing to  him  from  the  siege,  "  we  are  dying  off  fast 
for  want.  I  learn  that  Sir  William  Hamilton  says 
Pi'ince  Luzzi  refused  corn,  some  time  ago,  and  Sir 
William  does  not  think  it  worth  while  making  an- 
other application.  If  that  be  the  case,  I  wish  he 
commanded  this  distressing  scene,  instead  of  me. 
Puglia  had  an  immense  harvest:  near  thirty  sail 
left  Messina,  before  I  did,  to  load  corn.  Will  they 
let  us  have  any  ?  if  not,  a  short  time  will  decide  the 
busineiiiS.    The  German  interest  prevails.     I  wish  I 


iM 


I 


'? 


U  - 


200 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


n.. 


B, 


.if 


was  at  your  lordship's  elbow  for  an  hour. — All^  all, 
will  be  thrown  on  you ! — I  will  parry  the  blow  as 
much  as  in  my  power:  I  foresee  much  mischief 
brewing. — God  bless  your  lordship !  I  am  miser- 
able, I  cannot  assist  your  operations  more.  Many 
happy  returns  of  the  day  to  you — (it  was  the  first 
of  the  new  year) — I  never  spent  so  miserable  a  one. 
I  am  not  very  tender-hearted ;  but  really  the  distress 
here  would  even  move  a  Neapolitan."  Soon  after- 
wards he  wrote :  "I  have  this  day  saved  thirty 
thousand  people  from,  starving ;  but  with  this  day 
my  ability  ceases.  As  the  government  are  bent  on 
starving  us,  I  see  no  alternative  but  to  leave  these 
poor  unhappy  people  to  perish,  without  our  being 
witnesses  of  their  distress.  I  curse  the  day  I  ever 
served  the  Neapolitan  government. — We  have  char- 
acters, my  lord,  to  lose ;  these  people  have  none. 
Do  not  suffer  their  infamous  conduct  to  fall  on  us. 
Our  country  is  just,  but  severe.  Such  is  the  fever 
of  my  brain  this  minute,  that  I  assure  you,  on  my 
honor,  if  the  Palermo  traitors  were  here,  I  would 
shoot  them  first,  and  then  myself.  Girgenti  is  full 
of  corn ;  the  money  is  ready  to  pay  for  it ;  we  do 
not  ask  it  as  a  gift.  Oh !  could  you  see  the  horrid 
distress  I  daily  experience,  something  would  be 
done. — Some  engine  is  at  work  against  us  at  Naples ; 
and  I  believe  I  hit  on  the  proper  person.  If  you 
complain,  he  will  be  immediately  promoted,  agree- 
ably to  the  Neapolitan  custom.  AH  I  wi'ite  to  you 
is  known  at  the  queen's. — For  my  own  part,  I  look 
upon  the  Neapolitans  as  the  worst  of  intriguing 
enemies :  every  hour  shows  me  their  infamy  and 
duplicity.  I  pray  your  lordship  be  cautious  :  your 
honest,  open  manner  of  acting,  will  be  made  a 
handle  of.  When  I  see  you,  and  tell  of  their  infa- 
mous tricks,  you  will  be  as  much  surprised  as  I  am. 
The  whole  will  fall  on  you." 


\  \ 


*.^. 


■:y'.. 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


:     201 


Nelson  was  not,  and  could  not  be  insensible  to 
the  distress  which  his  friends  so  earnestly  repre- 
sented. He  begged,  almost  on  his  knees,  he  said, 
small  supplies  of  money  and  corn  to  keep  the  Maltese 
from  starving.  And  when  the  court  granted  a  small 
supply,  protesting  their  poverty,  he  believed  their 
protestations,  and  was  satisfied  with  their  profes- 
sions, instead  of  insisting  that  the  restrictions  upon 
the  exportation  of  corn  should  be  withdrawn.  The 
anxiety,  however,  which  he  endured,  affected  him 
so  deeply,  that  he  said  it  had  broken  his  spirit  for- 
ever. Happily  all  that  Trowbridge,  with  so  much 
reason  foreboded,  did  not  come  to  pass.  For  Cap- 
tain Ball,  with  more  decision  than  Nelson  himself 
would  have  shown  at  that  time,  and  upon  that  oc- 
casion, ventured  upon  a  resolute  measure,  for  which 
his  name  would  deseiTe  always  to  be  held  in  vene- 
ration by  the  Maltese,  even  if  it  had  no  other  claims 
to  the  love  and  reverence  of  a  gi'ateful  people. 
Finding  it  hopeless  longer  to  look  for  succor,  or 
common  humanity,  from  Uie  deceitful  and  infatuated 
court  of  Sicily,  which  persisted  in  prohibiting,  by 
sanguinary  edicts,  the  exportation  of  supplies,  at  his 
own  risk  he  sent  his  first  lieutenant  to  the  port  of 
Girgenti,  with  orders  to  seize  and  bring  with  him  to 
Malta,  the  ships  which  were  there  lying  laden  with 
corn ;  of  the  number  of  which  he  had  received 
accurate  information.  These  orders  were  executed 
to  the  great  delight  and  advantage  of  the  ship- 
owners and  proprietors ;  the  necessity  of  raising 
the  siege  was  removed,  and  Captain  Ball  waited,  in 
calmness,  for  the  consequences  to  himself.  *'  But," 
said  Mr.  Coleridge,  "  the  sole  result  was,  that  the 
governor  of  Malta  became  an  especial  object  of  the 
hatred,  fear,  and  respect  of  the  court  of  Naples." 

Nelson  himself,  at  the  beginning  of  February, 
sailed  for  that  island.     On  the  way  he  fell  in  with  a 


\v 


202 


i'l 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


l\ii 


French  squadron,  bound  for  its  relief,  and  consisting 
of  the  Genereux,  seventy-four,  three  frigates,  and  a 
corvette.  One  of  these  frigates,  and  the  line-of 
battle  ship,  were  taken ;  the  others  escaped,  but 
failed  in  their  purpose  of  reaching  La  Valette.  This 
success  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to  Nelson,  for 
many  reasons.  During  some  months  he  had  acted 
as  commander-in-chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  while 
Lord  Keith  was  in  England.  Lord  Keith  was  now 
returned ;  and  Nelson  had,  upon  his  own  plan,  and 
at  his  own  risk,  left  him,  to  sail  for  Malta, — **  for 
which,"  said  he,  "  if  I  had  not  succeeded,  I  might 
have  been  broke ; — and,  if  I  had  not  acted  thus,  the 
Genereux  never  would  have  been  taken."  This  ship 
was  one  of  those  which  had  escaped  from  Aboukii*. 
Two  frigates,  and  the  Guillaume  Tell,  eighty-six, 
were  all  that  now  remained  of  the  fleet  which  Bona- 
parte had  conducted  to  Egypt.  The  Guillaume  Tell 
was  at  this  time  closely  watched  in  the  harbor  of 
La  Valette  ;  and  shortly  afterwards,  attempting  to 
make  her  escape  from  thence,  was  taken,  after  an 
action  in  which  greater  skill  was  never  displayed  by 
British  ships,  nor  greater  gallantry  by- an  enemy. 
She  was  taken  by  the  Foudroyant,  Lion,  and  Pene- 
lope frigate.  Nelson,  rejoicing  at  what  he  called 
this  glorious  finish  to  the  whole  French  Mediterra- 
nean fleet,  rejoiced  also  that  he  was  not  present  to 
have  taken  a  sprig  of  these  brave  men's  laurels. 
"  They  are,"  said  he,  "  and  I  glory  in  them,  my 
children :  they  served  in  my  school ;  and  all  of  us 
caught  our  professional  zeal  and  fire  from'the  great 
and  good  Earl  St.  Vincent. — What  a  pleasure,  what 
happiness,  to  have  the  Nile  fleet  all  taken,  under  my 
orders  and  regulations  !  " — The  two  frigates  still  re- 
mained in  La  Valette ;  before  its  surrender  they 
stole  out :  one  was  taken  in  the  attempt ;  the  ^  other 
was  the  only  ship  of  the  whole  fleet  which  escaped 
capture  or  destruction. 


1  w 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


203 


my 
re- 


ped 


1. 1 


Letters  were  found  on  board  the  Guillaume  Tell 
showing  that  the  French  were  now  become  hopeless 
of  preserving  the  conquest  which  they  had  so  foully 
acquired.  Trowbridge  and  his  brother  officers  were 
anxious  that  Nelson  should  have  the  honor  of  sign- 
ing the  capitulation.  They  told  him,  that  they  abso- 
lutely, as  far  as  they  dared,  insisted  on  his  staying 
to  do  this ;  but  their  earnest  and  affectionate  en- 
treaties were  vain.  Sir  William  Hamilton  had  just 
been  superseded ;  Nelson  had  no  feeling  of  cordiality 
towards  Lord  Keith ;  and  thinking  that,  after  Earl 
St.  Vincent,  no  man  had  so  good  a  claim  to  the 
command  in  the  Mediterranean  as  himself,  he  ap- 
plied for  permission  to  return  to  England ;  telling 
the  first  lord  of  the  admiralty,  that  his  spirit  could 
not  submit  patiently,  and  that  he  was  a  broken- 
hearted man.  From  the  time  of  his  return  from 
Egypt,  amid  all  the  honors  which  were  showered 
upon  him,  he  had  suffered  many  mortifications.  Sir 
Sydney  Smith  had  been  sent  to  Egypt,  with  orders 
to  take  under  his  command  the  squadron  which 
Nelson  had  left  there.  Sir  Sydney  appears  to  have 
thought  that  this  command  was  to  be  independent  of 
Nelson :  and  Nelson  himself  thinking  so,  deter- 
mined to  return,  saying  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  '*  I  do 
feel,  for  I  am  man,  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
serve  in  these  seas  with  a  squadron  under  a  junior 
officer."  Earl  St.  Vincent  seems  to  have  dissuaded 
him  from  this  resolution :  some  heart-burnings,  how- 
ever, still  remained,  and  some  incautious  expres- 
sions of  Sir  Sydney's  were  noticed  by  him  in  terms 
of  evident  displeasure.  But  this  did  not  continue 
long,  as  no  man  bore  more  willing  testimony  than 
Nelson  to  the  admirable  defence  of  Acre. 

He  differed  from  Sir  Sydney  as  to  the  policy  which 
ought  to  be  pursued  toward  the  French  in  Egypt ; 
and  strictly    commanded    him,    in    the    strongest 


t.f 


204 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


,*!| 


language,  not,  on  any  pretence,  to  permit  a  single 
Frenchman  to  leave  the  country,  saying,  that  he 
considered  it  nothing  shoi*t  of  madness  to  permit 
that  band  of  thieves  to  return  to  Europe.  **  No," 
said  he,  *'  to  Egypt  they  went  with  their  own  con- 
sent, and  there  they  shall  remain,  while  Nelson 
commands  this  squadron :  for  never,  never  will  he 
consent  to  the  return  of  one  ship  or  Frenchman. — 
I  wish  them  to  perish  in  Egypt,  and  give  an  awful 
lesson  to  the  world  of  the  justice  of  the  Almighty." 
If  Nelson  had  not  thoroughly  understood  the 
character  of  the  enemy  against  whom  he  was 
engaged,  their  conduct  in  Egypt  would  have  dis- 
closed it.  After  the  battle  of  the  Nile  he  had  landed 
all  his  prisoners,  upon  a  solemn  engagement,  made 
between  Trowbridge  on  one  side,  and  Captain  Barre 
on  the  other,  that  none  of  them  should  sei've  till 
regularly  exchanged. — They  were  no  sooner  on 
shore,  than  part  of  them  were  drafted  into  the  dif- 
ferent regiments,  and  the  remaindei'  formed  into  a 
corps,  called  the  nautic  legion.  This  occasioned 
Captain  Hallowell  to  say,  that  the  French  had  for- 
feited all  claim  to  respect  fi'om  us.  *'  The  army  of 
Bonaparte,"  said  he,  "  are  entirely  destitute  of 
every  principle  of  honor:  they  have  always  acted 
like  licentious  thieves."  Bonaparte's  escape  was 
the  more  regretted  by  Nelson,  because,  if  he  had 
had  sufficient  force,  he  thought  it  would  certainly 
have  been  prevented.  He  wished  to  keep  his  ships 
upon  the  watch,  to  intercept  anything  coming  from 
Egypt :  but  the  admiralty  calculated  upon  the  assis- 
tance of  the  Russian  fleet,  which  failed  when  it  was 
most  wanted.  The  ships  which  should  have  been 
thus  employed,  were  then  required  for  more  press- 
ing services ;  and  the  bloody  Corsican  was  thus 
enabled  to  reach  Europe  in  safety ;  there  to  become 
the  guilty  insti'ument  of  a  wider-spreading  destruc- 


;'.     J 


.   I 


■'■'  •  ^  ■ 


THE  LITB  OP  NELSON. 


906 


tf 


1 1 


tion  than  any  with  which  the  world  had  ever  before 
been  visited. 

Nelson  had  other  causes  of  chagrin.  Earl  St. 
Vincent,  for  whom  he  felt  such  high  respect,  and 
whom  Sir  John  Orde  had  challenged,  for  hav- 
ing nominated  Nelson  instead  of  himself  to  the 
command  of  the  Nile  squadron,  laid  claim  to  prize 
money,  as  commander-in-chief,  after  he  had  quitted 
the  station.  The  point  was  contested,  and  decided 
against  him.  Nelson,  perhaps,  felt  this  the  more, 
because  his  own  feelings,  with  regard  to  money, 
were  so  different.  An  opinion  had  been  given  by 
Dr.  Lawrence,  which  would  have  excluded  the 
junior  flag  oflScers  from  prize  money.  When  this 
was  made  known  to  him,  his  reply  was  in  these 
words:  "Notwithstanding  Dr.  Lawrence's  opinion, 
I  do  not  believe  I  have  any  right  to  exclude  the 
junior  flag  oflScers :  and  if  I  have,  I  desire  that  no 
such  claim  may  be  made : — no,  not  if  it  were  sixty 
times  the  sum, — and,  poor  as  I  am,  I  were  never  to 
see  prize  money." 

A  ship  could  not  be  spared  to  convey  him  to 
England ;  he  therefore  travelled  through  Germany 
to  Hamburg  in  company  with  his  inseparable  friends. 
Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton.  The  Queen  of 
Naples  went  with  them  to  Vienna.  While  they 
were  at  Leghorn,  upon  a  report  that  the  French 
were  approaching  (for,  through  the  folly  of  weak 
courts,  and  the  treachery  of  venal  cabinets,  they 
had  now  recovered  their  ascendancy  in  Italy,)  the 
people  rose  tumultuously,  and  would  fain  have  per- 
suaded Nelson  to  lead  them  against  the  enemy. 
Public  honors,  and  yet  more  gratifying  testimonials 
of  public  admiration,  awaited  Nelson  wherever  he 
went.  The  Piince  of  Es1:erhazy  entertained  him  in 
a  style  of  Hungarian  magnificence — a  hundred 
grenadiers,  each  six  feet  in  height,  constantly  wait- 


/.i 


H 


<!■.<**'*'' "  ■  .V>ii  *<p». ./f 


f*V.,. 


itTf 


,♦**?>•»- ■'^,-.^%» 


»4^f''lM.^ 


s*^.*-?*-* 


\ 


206 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


rr 


ing  at  table.  At  Magdeburg,  the  master  of  the 
hotel  where  he  was  entertained,  contrived  to  show 
him  for  money ; — admitting  the  curious  to  mount  a 
ladder,  and  peep  at  him  through  a  small  window. 
A  wine-merchant  at  Hamburg,  who  was  above 
seventy  years  of  age,  requested  to  speak  with  Lady 
Hamilton  ;  and  told  her  he  had  some  Rhenish  wine, 
of  the  vintage  of  1625,  which  had  been  in  his  own 
possession  more  than  half  a  century :  he  had  pre- 
served it  for  some  extraordinary  occasion  ;  and  that 
which  had  now  aii'ived  was  far  beyond  any  that  he 
could  ever  have  expected.  His  request  was,  that 
her  ladyship  would  prevail  upon  Lord  Nelson  to  ac- 
cept six  dozen  of  this  incomparable  wine ;  part  of 
it  would  then  have  the  honor  to  flow  into  the  heart's 
blood  of  that  immortal  hero  ;  and  this  thought  would 
make  him  happy  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Nelson,  when  this  singular  request  was  reported  to 
him,  went  into  the  room,  and  taking  the  worthy  old 
gentleman  kindly  by  the  hand,  consented  to  receive 
six  bottles,  provided  the  donor  would  dine  with  him 
next  day.  Twelve  were  sent ;  and  Nelson,  saying 
that  he  hoped  yet  to  win  half-a-dozen  more  great 
victories,  promised  to  lay  by  six  bottles  of  his  Ham- 
burg friend's  wine,  for  the  purpose  of  drinking  one 
after  each. — A  German  pastor,  between  seventy  and 
eighty  years  of  age,  travelled  forty  miles,  with  the 
Bible  of  his  parish  church,  to  request  that  Nelson 
would  write  his  name  on  the  first  leaf  of  it.  He 
called  him  the  saviour  of  the  Christian  world.  The 
old  man's  hope  deceived  him.  There  was  no  Nel- 
son upon  shore,  or  Europe  would  have  been  saved ; 
but  in  his  foresight  of  the  horrors  with  which  all 
Germany  and  all  Christendom  were  threatened  by 
France,  the  pastor  could  not  possibly  have  appre- 
hended more  than  has  actually  taken  place.  '^ 


rei- 

all 

by 

re- 


TAt  English  Fleet  before  Copenhagen. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

IVTELSON  was  welcomed  in  England  with  every 
■^^  mark  of  popular  honor.  At  Yarmouth,  where 
he  landed,  every  ship  in  the  harbor  hoisted  her  col- 
ors. The  mayor  and  corporation  waited  upon  him 
with  the  freedom  of  the  town,  and  accompanied 
him  in  procession  to  church,  with  all  the  naval  offi- 
cers on  shore,  and  the  principal  inhabitants.  Bon- 
fires and  illuminations  concluded  the  day ;  and,  on 
the  morrow,  the  volunteer  cavalry  drew  up  and 
saluted  him  as  he  departed,  and  followed  the  car- 
riage to  the  borders  of  the  county.  At  Ipswich  the 
people  came  out  to  meet  him,  drew  him  a  mile  into 


r 


■'yj.,»i-t»-->-- 


^r. 


m 


II? 


,  i 


M6 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


%i 


the  town  and  three  miles  out.  When  he  was  in  the 
Agamemnon,  he  wished  to  represent  this  place  in 
parliament,  and  some  of  his  friends  had  consulted 
the  leading  men  of  the  corporation ;  the  result  was 
not  successful :  and  Nelson  observing,  that  he  would 
endeavor  to  find  out  a  preferable  path  into  parlia- 
ment, said  there  might  come  a  time  when  the  people 
of  Ipswich  would  think  it  an  honor  to  have  had  him 
for  their  representative.  In  London,  he  was  feasted 
by  the  city,  drawn  by  the  populace  from  Ludgate 
Hill  to  Guildhall,  and  received  the  thanks  of  the 
common  council  for  his  great  victory,  and  a  golden- 
hilted  sword  studded  with  diamonds.  Nelson  had 
every  earthly  blessing,  except  domestic  happiness : 
he  had  forfeited  that  for  ever.  Before  he  had  been 
three  months  in  England,  he  separated  from  Lady 
Nelson.  Some  of  his  last  words  to  her  were:  "I 
call  God  to  witness,  there  is  nothing  in  you,  or  your 
conduct,  that  I  wish  otherwise."  This  was  the  con- 
sequence of  his  infatuated  attachment  to  Lady 
Hamilton.  It  had  before  caused  a  quarrel  with  his 
son-in-law,  and  occasioned  remonstrances  from  his 
truest  friends,  which  produced  no  other  effect  than 
that  of  making  him  displeased  with  them,  and  more 
dissatisfied  with  himself. 

The  Addington  administration  was  just  at  this 
time  formed ;  and  Nelson,  who  had  solicited  em- 
ployment, and  been  made  vice-admiral  of  the  blue, 
was  sent  to  the  Baltic,  as  second  in  command,  under 
Sir  Hyde  Parker,  by  Earl  St.  Vincent,  the  new  first 
lord  of  the  admiralty.  The  three  northern  courts 
had  formed  a  confederacy  for  making  England  re- 
sign her  naval  rights.  Of  these  courts  Russia  was 
guided  by  the  passions  of  its  emperor,  Paul,  a  man 
not  without  fits  of  generosity,  and  some  natural 
goodness,  but  subject  to  the  wildest  humors  of  ca- 
price,  and  crazed  by  the  possession  of   greater 


'i 


t . .      .  "x    i  t 


\ 


^VifcV*'.,'*    '0'■]-5*i:^jrt^ta"i:v■*"--«^ 


.r*,^,.«|N»-«^f 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


this 
em- 
blue, 
inder 
first 
ourts 
[  re- 
was 
man 
tural 
ca- 
iater 


power  than  can  ever  be  safely,  or  perhaps  inno- 
cently, possessed  by  weak  humanity.  Denmark  was 
French  at  heart ;  ready  to  co-operate  in  all  the  views 
of  France,  to  recognize  all  her  usurpations,  and 
obey  all  her  injunctions.  Sweden,  under  a  king 
whose  principles  were  right,  and  whose  feelings 
were  generous,  but  who  had  a  taint  of  hereditary 
insanity,  acted  in  acquiescence  with  the  dictates  of 
two  powers  whom  it  feared  to  offend.  The  Danish 
navy,  at  this  time,  consisted  of  twenty-three  ships 
of  the  line,  with  about  thirty-one  frigates  and 
smaller  vessels,  exclusive  of  guard-ships.  The 
Swedes  had  eighteen  ships  of  the  line,  fourteen 
frigates  and  sloops,  seventy-four  galleys  and  smaller 
vessels,  besides  gun-boats  ;  and  this  force  was  in  a 
far  better  state  of  equipment  than  the  Danish.  The 
Russians  had  eighty-two  sail  of  the  line  and  forty 
frigates.  Of  these  there  were  forty-seven  sail  of 
the  line  at  Cronstadt,  Revel,  Petersburg,  and  Arch- 
angel :  but  the  Russian  fleet  was  ill-manned,  ill- 
officered,  and  ill-equipped.  Such  a  combination 
under  the  influence  of  France  would  soon  have  be- 
come formidable  ;  and  never  did  the  British  cabinet 
display  more  decision  than  in  instantly  preparing  to 
crush  it.  They  erred,  however,  in  permitting  any 
petty  considerations  to  prevent  them  from  appoint- 
ing Nelson  to  the  command.  The  public  properly 
murmured  at  seeing  it  entrusted  to  another :  and  he 
himself  said  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  that  circumstanced 
as  he  was,  this  expedition  would  probably  be  the 
last  service  that  he  should  ever  perform.  The  earl, 
in  reply,  besought  him,  for  God's  sake,  not  to  suffer 
himself  to  be  carried  away  by  any  sudden  impulse. 
The  season  happened  to  be  unusually  favorable, 
so  mild  a  winter  had  not  been  known  in  the  Baltic 
for  many  years.  When  Nelson  joined  the  fleet  at 
Yarmouth,  he  found  the  admiral  "a  little  nervous 
'41 


-'%  \ 


'  ♦     1 


w 


210 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m 


11. 


about  dark  nifi^htB  and  fields  of  ice.'* — "But  we 
miiHt  brace  up,"  said  he,  "  tliese  are  not  times  for 
nervo(it«  Rystems. — I  hope  we  sha^l  give  our  north- 
ern enemies  that  hailstorm  of  bullots,  which  gives 
our  dear  country  the  dominion  of  the  sea.  We 
har«  it,  and  all  the  devils  in  the  north  cannot  take 
it  from  us,  if  our  wooden  walls  have  fair  play." 
Before  the  fleet  left  Yarmouth,  it  was  sufficiently 
known  that  its  destination  was  against  Den  i  ar'c. 
Some  Danes,  who  belonged  to  the  Amazon  I'i^  «t  , 
went  to  Captain  Riou,  and  telling  him  ./hat  they 
had  heard,  begged  that  he  woulr*  ejei  ii-Ji  ex- 
changed into  a  ship  bound  on  bom  :  'her  dcBtina- 
tion.  "  They  had  no  wish,"  they  said,  *'  to  quit  the 
British  service  ;  but  they  entreated  that  they  might 
not  be  forced  to  fight  against  their  own  country." 
There  was  not  in  our  whole  navy  a  man  who  had  a 
higher  and  more  chivalrous  sense  of  duty  than 
Riou.  Tears  came  into  his  eyes  while  the  men  were 
speaking ;  without  making  any  reply,  he  instantly 
ordered  his  boat,  and  did  not  return  to  the  Amazon 
until  ile  could  tell  them  that  their  wish  was  eflfected. 
The  fleet  sailed  on  the  12th  of  March.  Mr.  Van- 
sittaiii  sailed  in  it ;  the  British  cabinet  still  hoping 
to  obtain  its  end  by  negotiation.  It  was  well  for 
England,  that  Sir  Hyde  Parker  placed  a  fuller  con- 
fidence in  Nelson  than  the  government  seems  to 
have  done  at  this  most  important  crisis.  Her  ene- 
mies might  well  have  been  astonished  at  learning, 
that  any  other  man  should  for  a  moment  have  been 
thought  of  for  the  ;  Tr^fjiand.  But  so  little  defer- 
ence was  paid  even  rt  th"  i  t^'me,  to  ^*t  intuitive  and 
all-commanding  g  nici,  limt  when  the  fleet  had 
reached  its  first  rendezvous,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
Cattegat,  he  had  received  no  official  communication 
whatever  of  the  intended  operations.  His  own 
mind  had  been  made  up  upon  them  with  its  accus- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


211 


it  we 
>8  for 
lorth- 
gives 
We 
b  take 
)lay." 
iently 

.  they 
ji  ex- 
jstina- 
ait  the 
might 
ntry." 
had  a 
J  than 
n  were 
jtantly 
mazon 
fected. 
.  Van- 
hoping 
ell  for 
r  con- 
ms  to 
er  ene- 
irning, 
e  been 
defer- 
ve  and 
had 
of  the 
ication 
own 
accua- 


\ 


it 


tomed  decision.  **  All  I  havf»  |fathered'of  our  first 
plans."  said  he,  *'  I  disapprove  most  exceedingly. 
Honor  may  arise  from  them;  gocMl  cannot.  I  hear 
we  are  likely  to  anchor  outside  of  Cronenburg 
castle,  instead  of  Copenhagen,  whicli  would  give 
weijjfht  to  our  negotiation.  A  Danish  minister 
would  think  twice  before  he  would  put  m^  name  to 
war  with  England,  when  the  next  moment  e  would 
probably  see  his  master's  fleet  in  flames, 
capital  in  ruins.  The  Dane  should  see 
every  moment  he  lifted  up  his  head." 

Mr.  Vansittart  left  the  fleet  at  the  Sca^s 
ceded  it  in  a  frigate,  with  a  flag  of  ti  uce. 
time  was  lost  by  this  delay,  which  was  to 
chased  by  the  dearest  blood  of  Britain  anM 
mark :  according  to  he  Danes  themselves, 
telligence  that  a  Britii-h  fleet  was  seen  off  the 
produced  a  much  mor«'  general  alarm  in  Co^, 
gen  -than  its  actual  ar -ival  in  the  roads ;  for 
means  of  defence  wert ,  at  that  time,  in  sl 
state,  that  they  could  hardly  hope  to  resist,  still 
to  repel,  an  enemy.  On  the  21st,  Nelson  ha^ 
long  conference  with  Sir  Hyde ;  and  the  next 
addressed  a  letter  to  him  worthy  of  himself,  and 
the  occasion.  Mr.  Vani- ittart's  report  had  then 
been  received.  It  represented  the  Danish  govern- 
ment as  in  the  highest  degre  e  hostile  ;  and  their  statt 
of  preparation  as  exceedinaj  what  our  cabinet  had 
supposed  possible ;  for  Den;iiark  had  profited,  with 
all  activity,  of  the  leisure  w  lich  had  so  impoliticly 
been  given  her.  **  The  mort  I  have  reflected,"  said 
Nelson  to  his  commander,  ^  the  more  I  am  con- 
firmed in  opinion,  that  not  a  moment  should  be  lost 
in  attacking  the  enemy.  They  will  every  day  and 
every  hour  be  stronger :  we  shall  never  be  so  good  a 
match  for  them  as  at  this  moment.  The  only  con- 
sideration is,  how  to  get  at  them  with  the  least  risk 


uail   his 
ou     flag 

and  pre- 
>eci<  us 
Im-  p  r- 
Ot'ii- 
in- 
md, 
ijha- 
heir 
a 

I      *S8 

a 

>f 


^^PliPiiM; 


212 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


1?^. 


\.  k 


.  i  ;! 


/ 


to  our  ships. — Here  you  are,  with  almost  the  safety 
— certainly  with  the  honor  —  of  England,  more 
entrusted  to  you,  than  ever  yet  fell  to  the  lot  of  any 
British  oflScer.  On  your  decision  depends  whether 
our  country  shall  be  degraded  in  the  eyes  of  Europe, 
or  whether  she  shall  rear  her  head  higher  than  ever. 
Again  I  do  repeat,  never  did  our  country  depend  so 
much  upon  the  success  of  any  fleet  as  on  this.  How 
best  to  honor  her,  and  abate  the  pride  of  her  ene- 
mies, must  be  the  subject  of  your  deepest  consider- 
ation." 

Supposing  him  to  force  the  passage  of  the  Sound, 
Nelson  thought  some  damage  might  be  done  among 
the  masts  and  yards ;  though,  perhaps,  not  one  of 
them  but  would  be  serviceable  again.  **If  the 
wind  be  fair,"  said  he,  "  and  you  determine  to 
attack  the  ships  and  Crown  Islands,  you  must  ex- 
pect the  natural  issue  of  such  a  battle — ships  crip- 
pled, and,  perhaps,  one  or  two  lost ;  for  the  wind 
which  carries  you  in,  will  most  probably  not  bring 
out  a  crippled  ship.  This  mode  I  call  taking  the 
bull  by  the  horns.  It,  however,  will  not  prevent  the 
Revel  ships,  or  the  Swedes,  from  joining  the  Danes : 
and  to  prevent  this,  is,  in  my  humble  opinion,  a 
measure  absolutely  necessary ;  and  still  to  attack 
Copenhagen."  For  this  he  proposed  two  modes. 
One  was,  to  pass  Cronenburg,  taking  the  risk  of 
danger;  take  the  deepest  and  straightest  channel 
along  the  Middle  Grounds ;  and  then  coming  down 
the  Garbar,  or  King's  Channel,  attack  the  Danish 
line  of  floating  batteries  and  ships,  as  might  be 
found  convenient.  This  would  prevent  a  junction, 
and  might  give  an  opportunity  of  bombarding 
Copenhagen.  Or  to  take  the  passage  of  the  Belt, 
which  might  be  accomplished  in  four  or  five  days  ; 
and  then  the  attack  by  Draco  might  be  made,  and 
the  junction  of  the  Russians  prevented.     Suppos- 


.\^ 


II  ■> 


■;v 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


213 


ing  them  through  the  Belt,  he  proposed  that  a 
detachment  of  the  fleet  should  be  sent  to  destroy 
the  Russian  squadron  at  Revel ;  and  that  the  busi- 
ness at  Copenhagen  should  be  attempted  with  the 
remainder.  "  The  measure,"  he  said,  "  might  be 
thought  bold;  but  the  boldest  measures  are  the 
safest." 

The  pilots,  as  men  who  had  nothing  but  safety  to 
think  of,  were  terrified  by  the  formidable  report  of 
the  batteries  of  Elsineur,  and  the  tremendous  prepa- 
rations which  our  negotiators,  who  were  now  re- 
turned from  their  fruitless  mission,  had  witnessed. 
They,  therefore,  persuaded  Sir  Hyde  to  prefer  the 
passage  of  the  Belt.  "  Let  it  be  by  the  Sound,  by 
the  Belt,  or  any  how,"  cried  Nelson,  **  only  lose  not 
an  hour ! "  On  the  26th  they  sailed  for  the  Belt : 
such  was  the  habitual  reserve  of  Sir  Hyde  that  his 
own  captain,  the  captain  of  the  fleet,  did  not  know 
which  course  he  had  resolved  to  take  till  the  fleet 
were  getting  under  weigh.  When  Captain  Domett 
was  thus  apprised  of  it,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  repre- 
sent to  the  admiral  his  belief  that,  if  that  course 
were  persevered  in,  the  ultimate  object  would  be 
totally  defeated :  it  was  liable  to  long  delays,  and 
to  accidents  of  ships  grounding ;  in  the  whole  fleet 
there  were  only  one  captain,  and  one  pilot,  who 
knew  anything  of  this  formidable  passage  (as  it  was 
then  deemed) ,  and  their  knowledge  was  very  slight : 
their  insti'uctions  did  not  authorize  them  to  attempt 
it ;  —  supposing  them  safe  through  the  Belts,  the 
heavy  ships  could  not  come  over  the  Grounds  to 
attack  Copenhagen ;  and  light  vessels  would  have 
no  effect  on  such  a  line  of  defence  as  had  been  pre- 
pared against  them.  Domett  urged  these  reasons 
so  forcibly  that  Sir  Hyde's  opinion  was  shaken,  and 
he  consented  to  bring  the  fleet  to,  and  send  for  Nel- 
son on  board.     There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that 


,\r 


214 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


, 


H 


y 


/ 


the  expedition  would  have  failed,  if  Captain  Domett 
had  not  thus  timely  and  earnestl}^  given  his  advice. 
Nelson  entirely  agreed  with  him ;  and  it  was  finally 
determined  to  take  the  passage  of  the  Sound,  and 
the  fleet  returned  to  its  former  anchorage. 

The  next  day  was  more  idly  expended  in  des- 
patching a  flag  of  truce  to  the  governor  of  Cronen- 
burg  Castle,  to  ask  whether  he  had  received  orders 
to  fire  at  the  British  fleet ;  as  the  admiral  must  con- 
sider the  first  gun  to  be  a  declaration  of  war  on  the 
part  of  Denmark.  A  soldier-like  and  becoming 
answer  was  returned  to  this  formality.  The  gov- 
ernor said,  that  the  British  minister  had  not  been 
sent  away  from  Copenhagen,  but  had  obtained  a 
passport  at  his  own  demand.  He  hr-  iself ,  as  a  sol- 
dier, could  not  meddle  with  politi. :, :  but  he  was 
not  at  liberty  to  suffer  a  fleet,  of  which  the  inten- 
tion was  not  yet  known,  to  approach  the  guns  of  the 
castle  which  he  had  the  honor  to  command :  and  he 
requested,  if  the  British  admiral  should  think  proper 
to  make  any  proposals  to  the  King  of  Denmark, 
that  he  might  be  apprised  of  it  before  the  fleet  ap- 
proached nearer.  During  this  intercourse,  a  Dane, 
who  came  on  board  the  commander's  ship,  having 
occasion  to  express  his  business  in  writing,  found 
the  pen  blunt ;  and,  holding  it  up,  sarcastically 
said,  "If  your  guns  are  not  better  pointed  than 
your  pens,  you  will  make  little  impression  on  Copen- 
hagen ! " 

On  that  day  intelligence  reached  the  admiral  of 
the  loss  of  one  of  his  fleet,  the  Invincible,  seventy- 
four,  wrecked  on  a  sand-bank,  as  she  was  coming 
out  of  Yarmouth ;  400  of  her  men  perished  in  her. 
Nelson,  who  was  now  appointed  to  lead  the  van, 
shifted  his  flag  to  the  Elephant,  Captain  Foley — a 
lighter  ship  than  the  St.  George,  and,  therefore, 
fitter  for  the  expected  operations.     The  two  follow- 


\v 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


215 


ing  days  were  calm.  Orders  had  been  given  to  pass 
the  Sound  as  soon  as  the  wind  would  permit ;  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  29th,  the  ships  were  cleared 
for  action,  with  an  alacrity  characteristic  of  British 
seamen.  At  day-break,  on  the  30th,  it  blew  a  top- 
sail breeze  from  N.  W.  The  signal  was  made,  and 
the  fleet  moved  on  in  order  of  battle ;  Nelson's 
division  in  the  van.  Sir  Hyde's  in  the  centre,  and 
Admiral  Graves'  in  the  rear. 

Great  actions,  whether  military  or  naval,  have 
generally  given  celebrity  to  the  scenes  from  whence 
they  are  denominated  ;  and  thus  petty  villages,  and 
capes,  and  bays,  known  only  to  the  coasting  trader, 
become  associated  with  mighty  deeds,  and  their 
names  are  made  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the 
world.  Here,  however,  the  scene  was  every  way 
worthy  of  the  drama.  The  political  importance  of 
the  Sound  is  such,  that  grand  objects  are  not  needed 
there  to  impress  the  imagination  ;  yet  is  the  channel 
full  of  grand  and  interesting  objects,  both  of  art  and 
nature.  This  passage,  which  Denmark  had  so  long 
considered  as  the  key  of  the  Baltic,  is,  in  its  nar- 
rowest part,  about  three  miles  wide ;  and  here  the 
city  of  Elsineur  is  situated  ;  except  Copenhagen,  the 
most  flourishing  of  the  Danish  towns.  Every  vessel 
which  passes  lowers  her  top-gallant- sails,  and  pays 
toll  at  Elsineur :  a  toll  which  is  believed  to  have  had 
its  origin  in  the  consent  of  the  traders  to  that  sea, 
Denmark  taking  upon  itself  the  charge  of  construct- 
ing light-houses,  and  erecting  signals,  to  mark  the 
shoals  and  rocks  from  the  Cattegat  to  the  Baltic : 
and  they,  on  their  part,  agreeing  that  all  ships 
should  pass  this  way,  in  order  that  all  might  pay 
their  shares :  none  from  that  time  using  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Belt ;  because  it  was  not  fitting  that 
they,  who  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  the  beacons  in  dark 
and  stormy  weather,  should  evade  contributing  to 


'/. 


\V     r 


IM 


i    • 

i 


I  I 
I  f 

l! 


216 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


'I 


)|'' 

'i'l[     fl 

r"     t 

P^ 

ijii: 

/ 


them  in  fair  seasons  and  snmraer  nights.  Of  late 
years  about  ten  thousand  vessels  had  annually  paid 
this  contribution  in  time  of  peace.  Adjoining 
Elsineur,  and  at  the  edge  of  the  peninsular  promon- 
tory, upon  the  nearest  point  of  land  to  the  Swedish 
coast  stands  Cronenburg  Castle,  built  after  Tycho 
Brahe's  design  ;  a  magnificent  pile — at  once  a  palace, 
and  fortress,  and  state  prison,  with  its  spires  and 
towers,  and  battlements  and  batteries.  On  the  left 
of  the  strait  is  the  old  Swedish  city  of  Helsinburg  ; 
at  the  foot,  and  on  the  side  of  the  hill.  To  the  north 
of  Helsinburg  the  shores  are  steep  and  rocky  ;  they 
lower  to  the  south  ;  and  the  distant  spires  of  Lands- 
crona,  Lund,  and  Malmoe,  are  seen  in  the  flat 
country.  The  Danish  shores  consist  partly  of  ridges 
of  sand ;  but,  more  frequently,  their  slopes  are 
covered  with  rich  wood,  and  villages  and  villas,  de- 
noting the  vicinity  of  a  great  capital.  The  isles  of 
Huen,  Saltholm,  and  Amak,  appear  in  the  widening 
channel ;  and,  at  the  distance  of  twenty  miles  from 
Elsineur,  stands  Copenhagen,  in  full  view — the  best 
city  of  the  north,  and  one  of  the  finest  capitals  of 
Europe — visible  with  its  stately  spires,  far  off.  Amid 
these  magnificent  objects  there  are  some  which  pos- 
sess a  peculiar  interest  for  the  recollections  which 
they  call  forth.  The  isle  of  Huen,  a  lovely  domain, 
about  six  miles  in  circumference,  had  been  the 
munificent  gift  of  Frederic  the  Second  to  Tycho 
Brahe.  Here  most  of  his  discoveries  were  made ; 
and  here  the  ruins  are  to  be  seen  of  his  observatory, 
and  of  the  mansion  where  he  was  visited  by  princes  ; 
and  where,  with  a  princely  spirit,  he  received  and 
entertained  all  comers  from  all  parts,  and  promoted 
science  by  his  liberality,  as  well  as  by  his  labors. 
Elsineur  is  a  name  familiar  to  English  ears,  being 
inseparably  associated  with  Hamlet,  and  one  of  the 
noblest  works  of  human  genius.     Cronenburg  had 


( 


\v  - 


i 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


217 


been  the  scene  of  deeper  tragedy :  here  Queen 
Matilda  was  confined,  the  victim  of  a  foul  and  mur- 
derous court  intrigue.  Here,  amid  heart-breaking 
griefs,  she  found  consolation  in  nursing  her  infant. 
Here  she  took  her  everlasting  leave  of  that  infant, 
when,  by  the  interference  of  England,  her  own  de- 
liverance was  obtained ;  and,  as  the  ship  bore  her 
away  from  a  country,  where  the  venial  indiscretions 
of  youth,  and  unsuspicious  gayety,  had  been  so 
cruelly  punished,  upon  these  towers  she  fixed  her 
eyes,  and  stood  upon  the  deck,  obstinately  gazing 
toward  them  till  the  last  speck  had  disappeared. 

The  Sound  being  the  only  frequented  entrance  to 
the  Baltic,  the  great  Mediten'anean  of  the  North, 
few  parts  of  the  sea  display  so  frequent  a  navigation. 
In  the  height  of  the  season  not  fewer  than  a  hundred 
vessels  pass  every  four-and-twenty  hours,  for  many 
weeks  in  succession :  but  never  had  so  busy  or  so 
splendid  a  scene  been  exhibited  there  as  on  this  day, 
when  the  British  fleet  prepared  to  force  that  passage, 
where,  till  now,  all  ships  had  vailed  their  top-sails  to 
the  flag  of  Denmark.  The  whole  force  consisted  of 
fifty-one  sail  of  various  descriptions  ;  of  which  six- 
teen were  of  the  line.  The  greater  part  of  the  bomb 
and  gun  vessels  took  their  stations  off  Cronenburg 
Castle,  to  cover  the  fleet ;  while  others  on  the  lar- 
board, were  ready  to  engage  the  Swedish  shore, 
the  Danes,  having  improved  every  moment  which 
ill-timed  negotiation  and  baflfling  weather  gave  them, 
had  lined  their  shore  with  batteries  ;  and  as  soon  as 
the  Monarch,  which  was  the  leading  ship,  came 
abreast  of  them,  a  fire  was  opened  from  about  a 
hundred  pieces  of  cannon  and  mortars :  our  light 
vessels  immediately,  in  return,  opened  their  fire  upon 
the  castle.  Here  was  all  the  pompous  circumstance, 
and  exciting  reality  of  war,  without  its  effects ;  for 
this  ostentatious  display  was  but  a  bloodless  prelude 


■  r 


■:    »'  • 


218 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


A    . 


to  the  wide  and  sweeping  destruction  which  was  soon 
to  follow.  The  enemy's  shot  fell  near  enough  to 
splash  the  water  on  board  our  ships :  not  relying 
upon  any  forbearance  of  the  Swedes,  they  meant  to 
have  kept  the  mid  channel ;  but,  when  they  per- 
ceived that  not  a  shot  was  fired  from  Helsinburg,  and 
that  no  batteries  were  to  be  seen  on  the  Swedish 
shore,  they  inclined  to  that  side,  so  as  completely  to 
get  out  of  reach  of  the  Danish  guns.  The  uninter- 
rupted blaze  which  was  kept  up  from  them  till  the 
fleet  had  passed,  served  only  to  exhilarate  our  sailors, 
and  afford  them  matter  for  jest,  as  the  shot  fell  in 
showers  a  full  cable's  length  short  of  its  destined 
aim.  A  few  rounds  were  returned  from  some  of  our 
leading  ships  till  they  perceived  its  inutility  ; — this, 
however,  occasioned  the  only  bloodshed  of  the  day, 
some  of  our  men  being  killed  and  wounded  by  the 
bursting  of  a  gun.  As  soon  as  the  main  body  had 
passed,  the  gun  vessels  followed,  desisting  from  their 
bombardment,  which  had  been  as  innocent  as  that  of 
the  enemy ;  and,  about  mid-day,  the  whole  fleet 
anchored  between  the  island  of  Huen  and  Copen- 
hagen. Sir  Hyde,  with  Nelson,  Admiral  Graves, 
some  of  the  senior  captains,  and  the  commanding 
oflBcers  of  the  artillery  and  the  troops,  then  proceeded 
in  a  lugger,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  means  of 
defence  ;  a  formidable  line  of  ships,  radeaus,  pon- 
toons, galleys,  fire-ships,  and  gun-boats,  flanked  and 
supported  by  extensive  batteries,  and  occupying, 
from  one  extreme  point  to  the  other,  an  extent  of 
nearly  four  miles. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  in  the  afternoon.  It 
was  apparent  that  the  Danes  could  not  be  attacked 
without  great  diflSculty  and  risk ;  and  some  of  the 
members  of  the  council  spoke  of  the  number  of  the 
Swedes  and  the  Russians  whom  they  should  after- 
wai'ds  have  to  engage,  as  a  consideration  which  ought 


i 


/ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


210 


to  be  borne  in  mind.  Nelson,  who  kept  pacing  the 
cabin,  impatient  as  he  ever  was  of  anything  which 
savored  of  irresolution,  repeatedly  said,  *'  The  more 
numerous  the  better:  I  wish  they  were  twice  as 
many, — the  easier  the  victory,  depend  on  it."  The 
plan  upon  which  he  had  determined,  if  ever  it  should 
be  his  fortune  to  bring  a  Baltic  fleet  to  action,  was 
to  attack  the  head  of  their  line,  and  confuse  their 
movements. — "  Close  with  a  Frenchman,"  he  used  to 
say,  "but  out-manoeuvre  a  Russian."  He  offered 
his  services  for  the  attack,  requiring  ten  sail  of  the 
line,  and  the  whole  of  the  smaller  craft.  Sir  Hyde 
gave  him  two  more  line-of -battle  ships  than  he  asked, 
and  left  everything  to  his  judgment. 

The  enemy's  force  was  not  the  only,  nov  the 
greatest,  obstacle  with  which  the  British  fleet  had 
to  contend :  there  was  another  to  be  overcome  before 
they  could  come  in  contact  with  it.  The  channel 
was  little  known,  and  extremely  intricate ;  all  the 
buoys  had  been  removed  ;  and  the  Danes  considered 
this  difficulty  as  almost  insuperable,  thinking  the 
diannel  impracticable  for  so  large  a  fleet.  Nelson 
himself  saw  the  soundings  made,  and  the  buoys  laid 
down,  boating  it  upon  this  exhausting  service,  day 
and  night,  till  it  was  effected.  When  this  was  done, 
he  thanked  God  for  having  enabled  him  to  get 
through  this  difficult  part  of  his  duty.  *'  It  had 
worn  him  down,"  he  said,  "  and  was  infinitely  more 
grievous  to  him  than  any  resistance  which  he  could 
experience  from  the  enemy." 

At  the  first  council  of  war,  opinions  inclined  to 
an  attack  from  the  eastward :  but  the  next  day,  the 
wind  being  southerly,  after  a  second  examination  of 
iihe  Danish  position,  it  was  determined  to  attack 
from  the  south,  approaching  in  the  manner  which 
Nelson  had  suggested  in  his  first  thoughts.  On  the 
morning  of   the  first  of  April,  the  whole  fleet  re- 


■\\ 


220 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


/ 


moved  to  an  anchorage  within  two  leagues  of  the 
town,  and  off  the  N.  W.  end  of  the  Middle  Ground ; 
a  shoal  lying  exactly  before  the  town,  at  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  distance,  and  extending 
along  its  whole  sea  front.  The  King's  Channel, 
where  there  is  deep  water,  is  between  this  shoal  and 
the  town ;  and  here  the  Danes  had  arranged  their 
line  of  defence,  as  near  the  shore  as  possible ;  nine- 
teen ships  and  floating  batteries,  flanked  at  the  end 
nearest  the  town,  by  the  Crown  batteries,  which 
were  two  artificial  islands,  at  the  mouth  of  the  har- 
bor— most  formidable  works  ;  the  larger  one  having, 
bj  the  Danish  account,  sixty-six  guns ;  but,  as  Nel- 
son believed,  eighty-eight.  The  fleet  having  an- 
chored. Nelson,  with  Riou,  in  the  Amazon,  made 
his  last  examination  of  the  ground  ;  and  about  one 
o'clock,  returning  to  his  own  ship,  threw  out  the 
signal  to  weigh.  It  was  received  with  a  shout 
throughout  the  whole  division  ;  they  weighed  with  a 
light  and  favorable  wind :  the  naiTow  channel  be- 
tween the  island  of  Saltholm  and  the  Middle  Ground 
had  been  accurately  buoyed ;  the  small  craft  pointed 
out  the  couise  distinctly ;  Riou  led  the  way :  the 
whole  division  coasted  along  the  outer  edge  of  the 
shoal,  doubled  its  further  extremity,  and  anchored 
there  off  Draco  Point,  just  as  the  darkness  closed 
— the  headmost  of  the  enemy's  line  not  being  more 
than  two  miles  distant.  The  signal  to  prepare  for 
action  had  been  made  early  in  the  evening ;  and,  as 
his  own  anchor  dropped.  Nelson  called  out,  "  I  will 
fight  them  the  moment  I  have  a  fair  wind."  It 
had  been  agreed  that  Sir  Hyde,  with  the  remain- 
ing ships,  should  weigh  on  the  following  morning, 
at  the  same  time  as  Nelson,  to  menace  the  Crown 
Batteries  on  his  side,  and  the  four  ships  of  the  line 
which  lay  at  the  entrance  of  the  arsenal ;  and  to 
cover  our  own  disabled  ships  as  they  came  out  of 
action. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


221 


me 
to 
of 


The  Danes,  meanti     ,  had   not  been  idle :    no 
sooner  did  the  guns  of  Crouenburg  make  it  known 
to   the   whole  city,  that  all  negotiation  was   at  an 
end,  that  the  British  fleet  was  passing  the  Sound, 
and  that  the  dispute  between  the  two  crowns  must 
now  be  decided  by  arms,  than  a  spirit  displayed 
itself  most  honoraljle  to  the  Danish  character.     All 
ranks  offered  themselves  to  the   service   of    their 
country ;  the  university  furnished  a  corps  of  twelve 
hundred  youths,  the  flower  of  Denmark : — it  was  one 
of  those  emergencies  in  which  little  drilling  or  dis- 
cipline is  necessary  to  render  courage   available : 
they  had  nothing  to  learn  but  how  to  manage  the 
guns,  and  were  employed  day  and  night  in  practis- 
ing them.    When  the  movements  of  Nelson's  squad- 
ron were  perceived.  It  was  known  when  and  where 
the  attack  was  to  be  expected,  and  the  line  of  de- 
fence was  manned  indiscriminately  by  soldiers,  sail- 
ors, and  citizens.     Had  not  the  whole  attention  of 
the  Danes  been  directed  to  strengthen  their   own 
means  of  defence,  they  might  most  materially  have 
annoytjd  the  invading  squadron,  and,  perhaps,  frus- 
trated the  impending  attack ;  for  the  British  ships 
were  crowded  in  an  anchoring  ground  of  little  ex- 
tent : — it  was  calm,  so  that  mortar-boats  might  have 
acted  against  them  to  the  utmost  advantage ;  and 
they  were  within  range  of  shells  from  Amak  Island. 
A  few  fell  among  them  ;  but  the  enemy  soon  ceased 
to  fire.     It  was  learnt  afterwards,  that,  fortunately 
for  the  fleet,  the  bed  of  the  mortar  had  given  way  ; 
and  the  Danes  either  could  not  get  it  replaced,  or, 
in  the  darkness,  lost  the  direction. 

This  was  an  awful  night  for  Copenhagen — far 
more  so  than  for  the  British  fleet,  where  the  men 
were  accustomed  to  battle  and  victory,  and  had 
none  of  those  objects  before  their  eyes,  which  ren- 
der death  terrible.     Nelson  sat  down  to  table  with 


.%  ••«•' 


:  tJ  -'■•*  ."»••.*  '■:v  • 


_  •*'      v^t^^t^v-T     *•*    •-*    ?- .*-^     J».  .*«,  , 


»!-^iil 


? 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


a  large  party  of  his  officers ;  he  was,  as  he  was 
ever  wont  to  be  when  on  the  eve  of  action,  in  high 
spirits,  and  drank  to  a  leading  wind,  and  to  the 
success  of  the  morrow.  After  supper  they  returned 
to  their  respective  ships,  except  Riou,  who  remained 
to  arrange  the  order  of  battle  with  Nelson  and  ^o- 
ley,  and  to  draw  up  instructions :  Hardy,  meantime, 
went  in  a  small  boat  to  examine  the  channel  between 
them  and  the  enemy  ;  approaching  so  near,  that  he 
sounded  round  their  leading  ship  with  a  pole,  lest 
the  noise  of  throwing  the  lead  should  discover  him. 
The  incessant  fatigue  of  body,  as  well  as  mind, 
which  Nelson  had  undergone  during  the  last  three 
days,  had  so  exhausted  him,  that  he  was  earnestly 
urged  to  go  to  his  cot ;  and  Mva  old  servant,  Allen, 
using  that  kind  of  authority  which  long  and  affec- 
tionate services  entitled  and  enabled  him  to  assume 
on  such  occasions,  insisted  upon  his  complying. 
The  cot  was  placed  on  the  floor,  and  he  continued  to 
dictate  from  it.  About  eleven  Hardy  returned,  and 
reported  the  practicability  of  the  channel,  and  the 
depth  of  water  up  ^o  the  enemy's  line.  About  one, 
the  orders  were  completed  ;  and  half  a  dozen  clerks, 
in  the  foremost  cabin,  proceeded  to  transcribe  them  : 
Nelson  frequently  calling  out  to  them  from  his  cot 
to  hasten  their  work,  for  the  wind  was  becoming 
fair.  Instead  of  attempting  to  get  a  few  hours  of 
sleep,  he  was  constantly  receiving  reports  on  this 
important  point.  At  day-break  it  was  announced 
as  becoming  perfectly  fair.  The.  clerks  finished 
their  work  about  six.  Nelson,  who  was  already 
up,  breakfasted,  and  made  signal  for  all  captains. 
The  land  forces,  and  five  hundred  seamen,  under 
Captain  Freemantle  and  the  Honorable  Colonel 
Stewart,  were  to  storm  the  Crown  Battery  as  soon 
as  its  fire  should  be  silenced :  and  Riou — whom  Nel- 
son had  never  seen  till  this  expedition,  but  whose 


I   \ 


u 


THE  LITE  or  NEFiSOJ?. 


298 


worth  he  had  instantly  perceived,  md  appreciated 
as  it  deserved — had  the  Blanche  and  Alcmene  frig- 
ates, the  Dart  and  Arrow  sloops,  and  the  Zephyr 
and  Otter  fire-ships,  given  him,  with  a  special  com- 
mand to  act  as  circumstances  might  require :— • 
every  other  ship  had  its  station  appointed. 

Between  eight  and  nine,  the  pilots  and  masters 
were  ordered  on  board  the  admiral's  ship.  The  pilots 
were  mostly  men  who  had  been  mates  in  Baltic 
traders ;  and  their  hesitation  about  the  bearing  of 
the  east  end  of  the  shoal,  and  the  exact  line  of  deep 
water,  gave  ominous  warning  of  how  little  their 
knowledge  was  to  be  trusted.  The  signal  for  action 
had  been  made,  the  wind  was  fair — not  a  moment  to 
be  lost.  Nelson  urged  them  to  be  steady, — to  be 
resolute,  and  to  decide :  but  they  wanted  the  only 
ground  for  steadiness  and  decision  in  such  cases ; 
and  Nelson  had  reason  to  regret  that  he  had  not 
trusted  to  Hardy's  single  report.  This  was  one  of 
the  most  painful  moments  of  his  life  ;  and  he  always 
spoke  of  it  with  bitterness.  "  I  experienced  in  the 
Sound,"  said  he,  *'  the  misery  of  having  the  honor 
of  our  country  intrusted  to  a  set  of  pilots,  who  have 
no  other  thought  than  to  keep  the  ships  clear  of 
danger,  and  their  own  silly  heads  clear  of  shot. 
Everybody  knows  what  I  must  have  suffered :  and  if 
any  merit  attaches  itself  to  me,  it  was  for  combating 
the  dangers  of  the  shallows  in  defiance  of  them.'* 
At  length  Mr.  Bryerlj^,  the  master  of  the  Bellona, 
declared  that  he  was  prepared  to  lead  the  fleet :  his 
judgment  was  acceded  to  by  the  rest :  they  returned 
to  their  ships  ;  and,  at  half-past  nine,  the  signal  was 
made  to  weigh  in  succession. 

Captain  Murray,  in  the  Edgar,  led  the  way ;  the 
Agamemnon  was  next  in  order;  but  on  the  first 
attempt  to  leave  her  anchorage,  she  could  not 
weather  the  edge  of  the  shoal ;  and  Nelson  had  the 


y 


**"  *"^^ 


■-»-•*►  f  *  ■^•r,;';:^'-'.. 


A  ftif%^  ;-t<**rft-* 


/       ^^ 


224 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


grief  to  sec  his  old  ship,  in  which  he  had  performed 
so  many  years'  gallant  services,  immovably  aground, 
at  a  moment  when  her  help  was  so  greatly  required. 
Signal  was  then  made  for  the  Polyphemus :  and  this 
change  in  the  order  of  sailing  was  executed  with  the 
utmost  promptitude :  yet  so  much  delay  had  thus 
been  unavoidably  occasioned,  tliat  the  Edgar  was 
for  some  time  unsupported :  and  the  Polyphemus, 
whose  place  should  have  been  at  the  end  of  the 
enemy's  line,  where  their  strength  was  the  greatest, 
could  get  no  further  than  the  beginning,  owing  to 
the  difficulty  of  the  channel :  there  she  occupied  in- 
deed an  efficient  station,  but  one  where  her  presence 
was  less  required.  The  Isis  followed,  with  better 
fortune,  and  took  her  own  berth.  The  Bellona,  Sir 
Thomas  Boulden  Thompson,  kept  too  close  on  the 
starboard  shoal,  and  grounded  abreast  of  the  outer 
ship  of  the  enemy :  this  was  the  more  vexatious, 
inasmuch  as  the  wind  was  fair,  the  room  ample,  and 
three  ships  had  led  the  way.  The  Russell  following 
the  Bellona,  grounded  in  like  manner :  both  were 
within  reach  of  shot ;  but  their  absence  from  their 
intended  stations  were  severely  felt.  Each  ship  had 
been  ordered  to  pass  her  leader  on  the  starboard 
side,  because  the  water  was  supposed  to  shoal  on  the 
larboard  shoi;p.  Nelson,  who  came  next  after  these 
two  ships,  thought  they  had  kept  too  far  on  the 
starboard  direction,  and  made  signal  for  them  to 
close  with  the  enemy,  not  knowing  that  they  were 
aground :  but,  when  he  perceived  that  they  did  not 
obey  the  signal,  he  ordered  the  Elephant's  helm  to 
starboard,  and  went  within  these  ships :  thus  quit- 
ting the  appointed  order  of  sailing,  and  guiding  those 
which  were  to  follow.  The  greater  part  of  the  fleet 
were  probably,  by  this  act  of  promptitude  on  his 
part,  saved  from  going  on  shore.  Each  ship,  as  she 
arrived  nearly  opposite  to  her  appointed  station,  let 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


her  anchor  f^o  by  the  stern,  and  presented  her  broad- 
Bide  to  the  Danes.  The  distance  between  each  was 
about  half  a  cable.  The  action  was  fought  nearly 
at  the  distance  of  a  cable's  length  from  the  enemy. 
This,  which  rendered  its  continuance  so  long,  was 
owing  to  the  ignorance  and  consequent  indecision  of 
the  pilots.  In  pursuance  of  the  same  error  which 
had  led  the  Bellona  and  the  Russel  aground,  they, 
when  the  lead  was  at  a  quarter  less  five,  refused  to 
approach  nearer,  in  dread  of  shoaling  their  water 
on  the  larboard  shore  :  a  fear  altogether  erroneous, 
for  the  water  deepened  up  to  the  very  side  of  the 
enemy's  line. 

At  five  minutes  after  ten  the  action  begaii.  The 
first  half  of  our  fleet  was  engaged  in  about  half  an 
hour ;  and,  by  half-past  eleven,  the  battle  became 
general.  The  plan  of  the  attack  had  been  com- 
plete :  but  seldom  has  any  plan  been  more  discon- 
certed by  untoward  accidents.  Of  twelve  ships  of 
the  line,  one  was  entirely  useless,  and  two  others  in 
a  situation  where  they  could  not  render  half  the  ser- 
vice which  was  requii-ed  of  them.  Of  the  squadron 
of  gun-lH'igs  only  one  could  get  into  action :  the  rest 
were  prevented,  by  baffling  currents,  from  weather- 
ing the  eastern  end  of  the  shoal ;  and  only  two  of 
the  bomb-vessels  could  reach  their  station  on  the 
Middle  Ground,  and  open  their  mortars  on  the  ar- 
senal, firing  ovei'  both  fleets.  Riou  took  the  vacant 
station  against  the  Crown  Battery,  with  his  frigates  ; 
attempting,  with  that  unequal  force,  a  service  in 
which  three  sail  of  the  line  had  been  directed  to 
assist. 

Nelson's  agitation  had  been  extreme  when  he  saw 
himself,  before  the  action  began,  deprived  of  a  fourth 
part  of  his  ships  of  the  line  ;  but  no  sooner  was  he 
in  battle,  where  his  squadron  was  received  with  the 
fire  of  more  than  a  thousand  guns,  than,  as  if  that 

16 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


ii  ^^1 


artillery  like  music,  had  driven  away  all  care  and 
painful  thoughts,  his  countenance  brightened ;  and, 
as  a  bystander  describes  him,  his  conversation  be- 
came joyous,  animated,  elevated  and  delightful.  The 
commander-in-chief,  meantime,  near  enough  to  the 
scene  of  action  to  know  the  unfavorable  accidents 
which  had  so  materially  weakened  Nelson,  and  yet 
too  distant  to  know  the  real  state  of  the  contending 
parties,  suffered  the  most  dreadful  anxiety.  To  get 
to  his  assistance  was  impossible ;  both  wind  and 
current  were  against  him.  Fear  for  the  event,  in 
such  circumstances,  would  naturally  preponderate  in 
the  bravest  mind ;  and,  at  one  o'clock,  perceiving 
that,  after  three  hours'  endurance,  the  enemy's  fire 
was  unslacked,  he  began  to  despair  of  success.  *'  I 
will  make  the  signal  of  recall,"  said  he  to  his  cap- 
tain, "  for  Nelson's  sake.  If  he  is  in  a  condition  to 
continue  the  action  successfully,  he  will  disregard 
it ;  if  he  is  not,  it  will  be  an  excuse  for  his  retreat, 
and  no  blame  can  be  imputed  to  him."  Captain 
Domett  urged  him  at  least  to  delay  the  signal  till  he 
could  communicate  with  Nelson ;  but,  in  Sir  Hvde's 
opinion,  the  danger  was  too  pressing  for  delay : — 
•"'The  fire,"  he  said,  "was  too  hot  for  Nelson  to 
oppose ;  a  retreat  he  thought  must  be  made,  he 
was  aware  of  the  consequences  to  his  own  personal 
reputation,  but  it  would  be  cowardly  in  him  to  leave 
Nelson  to  bear  the  whole  shame  of  the  failure,  if 
shame  it  should  be  deemed."  Under  a  mistaken 
judgment,*  therefore,  but  with  this  disinterested 
and  generous  feeling,  he  made  the  signal  for  retreat. 
Nelson  was  at  this  time,  in  all  the  excitement  of 
action,  pacing  the  quarter-deck.  A  shot  through 
the  mainmast  knocked  the  splinters  about ;  and  he 

♦  I  have  great  pleasure  in  rendering  this  justice  to  Sir 
Hyde  Parker's  reasoning.  Tfcs  fact  is  here  stated  upon  the 
highest  and  most  unquestionable  authority. 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


227 


•e  and 
;  and, 
on  be- 
1.  The 
to  the 
3idents 
md  yet 
ending 
To  get 
id  and 
ent,  in 
irate  in 
ceiving 
y's  fire 
;s.     "I 
lis  cap- 
ition  to 
sregard 
retreat, 
Daptain 
till  he 
lyde's 
lay  :— 
son  to 
ide,  he 
ersonal 
o  leave 
ure,  if 
istaiien 
erested 
etreat. 
nent  of 
hix)ugh 
and  he 

e  to  Sir 
ipou  the 


observed  to  one  of  his  officers  with  a  smile,  "  It  is 
warm  work  ;  and  this  day  may  be  the  last  to  any  of 
us  at  a  moment ;  ** — and  then  stopping  short  at  the 
gangway,  added  with  emotion — "  But  mark  you  !  I 
would  not  be  elsewhere  for  thousands."  About  this 
time  the  signal  lieutenant  called  out,  that  No.  39 
(the  signal  for  discontinuing  the  action)  was  thrown 
out  by  the  commander-in-chief.  He  continued  to 
walk  the  deck,  and  appeared  to  take  no  notice  of  it. 
The  signal  officer  met  him  at  the  next  turn,  and 
asked  him  if  he  should  repeat  it.  "  No,"  he  re- 
plied, '*  acknowledge  it."  Presently  he  called  after 
him  to  know  if  the  signal  for  close  action  was  still 
hoisted ;  and  being  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
said,  "  Mind  you  keep  it  so."  He  now  paced  the 
deck,  moving  the  stump  of  his  lost  arm  in  a  manner 
which  always  indicated  great  emotion.  *'Doyou 
know,"  said  he  to  Mr.  Ferguson,  "  what  is  shown 
on  board  the  commander-in-chief?  No.  39!" 
Mr.  Ferguson  asked  what  that  meant, — "  Why,  to 
leave  off  action !  "  Then,  shrugging  up  his  shoul- 
ders, he  repeated  the  words — "Leave  off  action? 
Now,  damn  me  if  I  do !  You  know,  Foley,"  turn- 
ing to  the  captain,  "  I  have  only  one  eye, — I  have  a 
right  to  be  blind  sometimes : " — and  then,  putting 
the  glass  to  his  blind  eye,  in  that  mood  of  mind 
which  sports  with  bitterness,  he  exclaimed,  "  I 
really  do  not  see  the  signal ! "  Presently  he  ex- 
claimed, *'  Damn  the  signal !  Keep  mine  for  closer 
battle  flying !  That's  the  way  I  answer  such  sig- 
nals !  Nail  mine  to  the  mast !  "  Admiral  Graves, 
who  was  so  situated  that  he  could  not  discern  what 
was  done  on  board  the  Elephant,  disobeyed  Sir 
Hyde's  signal  in  like  manner :  whether  by  fortunate 
mistake,  or  by  a  like  brave  intention,  has  not  been 
made  known.  The  other  ships  of  the  line,  looking 
only  to  Nelson,  continued  the  action.     The  signal, 


H^^f*,  ^•n,>^.«*.r'»?r 


..j^'^ .  f  ^,  M  **•*  ^,  f  T*r»  *  f  •'r  ^ 


:^fc,  »  rt«     ,  »    *  *  ^« 


228 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


W    i| 


however,  saved  Riou's  little  squadron,  but  did  not 
save  its  heroic  leader.  This  squadron,  which  was 
nearest  the  commander-in-chief,  obeyed,  and  hauled 
ofif.  It  had  suffered  severely  in  its  most  unequal 
contest.  For  a  long  time  the  Amazon  had  been 
firing,  enveloped  in  smoke,  when  Riou  desired  his 
men  to  stand  fast,  and  let  the  smoke  clear  ofif,  that 
they  might  see  what  they  were  about.  A  fatal 
order;  for  the  Danes  then  got  clear  sight  of  her 
from  the  batteries,  and  pointed  their  guns  with  such 
tremendous  effect,  that  nothing  but  the  signal  for 
retreat  saved  this  frigate  from  destruction.  "  What 
will  Nelson  think  of  us !  "  was  Riou's  mournful  ex- 
clamation, when  he  unwillingly  drew  off.  He  had 
been  wounded  in  the  head  by  a  splinter,  and  was 
sitting  on  a  gun,  encouraging  his  men,  when,  just 
as  the  Amazon  showed  her  stern  to  the  Trekroner 
Battery,  his  clerk  was  killed  by  his  side ;  and  an- 
other shot  swept  away  sever^  marines,  who  were 
hauling  in  the  main-brace.  ''  Come,  then,  my 
boys  I "  cried  Riou,  "let  us  die  all  together !  "  The 
words  had  scarcely  been  uttered,  before  a  raking 
shot  cut  him  in  two.  Except  it  had  been  Nelson 
himself,  the  British  navy  could  not  have  suffered  a 
severer  loss. 

The  action  continued  along  the  line  with  unabated 
vigor  on  our  side,  and  with  the  most  determined 
resolution  on  the  part  of  the  Danes.  They  fought 
to  great  advantage,  because  most  of  the  vessels  in 
their  line  of  defence  were  without  masts :  the  few 
which  had  any  standing  had  theh*  top-masts  struck, 
and  the  hulls  could  only  be  seen  at  intervals.  The 
Isis  must  have  been  destroyed  by  the  superior 
weight  of  her  enemy's  fire,  if  Captain  Inman,  in  the 
Desiree  frigate,  had  not  judiciously  taken  a  situa- 
tion which  enabled  him  to  rake  the  Dane,  and  if  the 
Polyphemus  had  not  also  relieved  her.     Both  in  the 


\  - 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


229 


did  not 
ich  was 
hauled 
iinequal 
,d  been 
red  hi8 
)ff,  that 
A.  fatal 
of  her 
ith  such 
gnal  for 
''What 
nf  ul  ex- 
He  had 
and  was 
len,  just 
L-ekroner 
and  an- 
ho  were 
len,  my 
"    The 
raking 
Nelson 
iffered  a 

mabated 
ermined 
fought 
jssels  in 
the  few 
\  struck, 
s.  The 
superior 
n,  in  the 
a  situa- 

lid  if  the 
th  in  the 


Bellona  and  the  Isis  many  men  were  lost  by  the 
bursting  of  their  guns.  The  former  ship  was  about 
forty  years  old,  and  these  guns  were  believed  to  be 
the  same  which  she  had  first  taken  to  sea:  they 
were,  probably,  originally  faulty,  for  the  fi'agments 
were  full  of  little  air-holes.  The  Bellona  lost 
seventy-five  men :  the  Isis,  one  hundred  and  ten ; 
the  Monarch,  two  hundred  and  ten.  She  was,  more 
than  any  other  line  of  battle  ship,  exposed  to  the 
great  battery ;  and  supporting,  at  the  same  time, 
the  united  fire  of  the  Holstein  and  the  Zealand,  her 
loss  this  day  exceeded  that  of  any  single  ship  dur- 
ing the  whole  war.  Amid  the  tremendous  carnage 
in  this  vessel,  some  of  the  men  displayed  a  singular 
instance  of  coolness :  the  pork  and  peas  happened 
to  be  in  the  kettle ;  a  shot  knocked  its  contents 
about;  they  picked  up  the  pieces,  and  ate  and 
fought  at  the  same  time. 

The  prince-royal  had  taken  his  station  upon  one 
of  the  batteries,  from  whence  he  beheld  the  action, 
and  issued  his  orders.  Denmark  had  never  been 
engaged  in  so  arduous  a  contest,  and  never  did  the 
Danes  more  nobly  display  their  national  courage  : — 
a  courage  not  more  unhappily,  than  impoliticly 
exerted  in  subserviency  to  the  interest  of  France. 
Captain  Thura,  of  the  Indfoedsretten,  fell  early  in 
the  action ;  and  all  his  officers,  except  one  lieuten- 
ant and  one  marine  officer,  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  In  the  confusion,  the  colors  were  either 
struck  or  shot  awav ;  but  she  was  moored  athwart 
one  of  the  batteries  in  such  a  situation,  that  the 
British  made  no  attempt  to  board  her ;  and  a  boat 
was  despatched  to  the  prince,  to  inform  him  of  her 
situation.  He  turned  to  those  about  him,  and  said, 
*' Gentlemen,  Thura  is  killed:  which  of  you  will 
take  the  command  ?  "  Schroedersee,  a  captain  who 
had    lately  resigned,   on    account  of   extreme  ill 


\  ,  "■ 


230 


THE  LIFE  OF  NEMON. 


)  I 


I   III 


health,  answered,  in  a  feeble  voice,  **  I  will  I  *'  and 
hastened  on  board.  The  crew,  perceiving  a  new 
commander  coming  alongside,  hoisted  their  colors 
again,  and  fired  a  broadside.  Schroedersee,  when 
he  came  on  deck,  found  himself  surrounded  by  the 
dead  and  wounded,  and  called  to  those  in  the  boat 
to  get  quickly  on  board  :  a  ball  struck  him  at  that 
moment.  A  lieutenant,  who  had  accompanied  him, 
then  took  the  command,  and  continued  to  fight  the 
ship.  A  youth  of  seventeen,  by  name  Villeiuoes, 
particularly  distinguished  himself  on  this  memorable 
day.  He  had  volunteered  to  take  the  command  of 
a  floating  battery ;  which  was  a  raft,  consisting 
merely  of  a  number  of  beams  nailed  together,  with 
a  flooring  to  support  the  guns :  it  was  square,  with 
a  breastwork  full  of  port-holes,  and  without  masts 
— carrying  twenty-four  guns,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men.  With  this  he  got  under  the  stern  of 
the  Elephant,  below  the  reach  of  the  stern-chasers  ; 
and,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  small  arras  from  the 
marines,  fought  his  raft,  till  the  truce  was  an- 
nounced, with  such  skill,  as  well  as  courage,  as  to 
excite  Nelson's  warmest  admiration. 

Between  one  and  two  the  fire  of  the  Danes  slack- 
ened ;  about  two  it  ceased  from  the  greater  part  of 
their  line,  and  some  of  their  lighter  ships  were 
adrift.  It  was,  however,  difficult  to  take  posses- 
sion of  those  which  struck,  because  the  batteries  on 
Amak  Island  protected  them ;  and  because  an  irreg- 
ular fire  was  kept  up  from  the  ships  themselves  as 
the  boats  approached.  This  arose  from  the  nature 
of  the  action ;  the  crews  were  continually  reinforced 
from  the  shore :  and  fresh  men  coming  on  board, 
did  not  inquire  whether  the  flag  had  been  struck,  or, 
perhaps,  did  not  heed  it ; — many,  or  most  of  them, 
never  having  been  engaged  in  war  before-^-knowing 
nothing,  therefore,  of  its  laws,  and  thinking  only  of 


i  '1! 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


231 


!"  and 
;  a  new 
V  colors 
e,  when 
I  by  the 
the  boat 

at  that 
led  him, 
Sght  the 
lleiA-oes, 
morable 
mand  of 
nsisting 
er,  with 
re,  with 
it  masts 
Ired  and 
stern  of 
3hasers ; 
•om  the 
^a&  an- 
e,  as  to 

ss  slack- 
part  of 
3s  were 
posses- 
eries  on 
Jti  irrep"- 
slves  as 
nature 
nforced 
board, 
uck,  or, 
them, 
[nowing 
only  of 


defending  their  country  to  the  last  extremity.  The 
Danbrog  fired  upon  the  Elephant's  boats  in  this 
manner,  though  her  commodore  had  removed  her 
pendant  and  deserted  her,  though  she  had  struck, 
and  though  she  was  in  flames.  After  she  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  commodore,  Braun  fought  her  till 
he  lost  his  right  hrnd,  and  then  Captain  Lemming 
took  the  command.  This  unexpected  renewal  of 
her  fire  made  the  Elephant  and  Glatton  renew 
theirs,  till  she  was  not  only  silenced,  but  nearly 
every  man  in  the  praams  ahead  and  astern  of  her 
was  killed.  When  the  smoke  of  their  guns  died 
away,  she  was  seen  drifting  in  flames  before  the 
wind,  those  of  her  crew  who  remained  alive,  and 
able  to  exert  themselves,  throwing  themselves  out  at 
her  port-holes. 

Captain  Rothe  commanded  the  Nyeborg  praam ; 
and,  perceiving  that  she  could  not  much  longer  be 
kept  afloat,  made  for  the  inner  road.  As  he  passed 
the  line,  he  found  the  Aggershuus  praam  in  a  more 
miserable  condition  than  his  own  ;  her  masts  had  all 
gone  by  the  board,  and  she  was  on  the  point  of 
sinking.  Rothe  made  fast  a  cable  to  her  stern,  and 
towed  her  off :  but  he  could  get  her  no  further  than 
a  shoal,  called  Stubben,  when  she  sunk ;  and  soon 
after  he  had  worked  the  Nyeborg  up  to  the  landing 
place,  that  vessel  also  sunk  to  her  gunwale.  Never 
did  any  vessel  come  out  of  action  in  a  more  dread- 
ful plight.  The  stump  of  her  foremast  was  the  only 
stick  standing ;  her  cabin  had  been  stove  in ;  every 
gun,  except  a  single  one,  was  dismounted ;  and  her 
deck  was  covered  with  shattered  limbs  and  dead 
bodies. 

By  half -past  two  the  action  had  ceased  along  that 
part  of  the  line  which  was  astern  of  the  Elephant, 
but  not  with  the  ships  ahead  and  the  Crown  Bat- 
teries.     Nelson,  seeing  the  manner  in  which   hia 


it\Ai.iA£:jjfKij. 


t       i 


232 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


ji 


'  -;  -  ■  S 


i'k 


I 


ffis'l  I 


boats  were  fired  upon,  when  they  went  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  prizes,  became  angry,  and  said,  he 
must  either  send  on  shore  to  have  this  irregular  pro- 
ceeding stopped,  or  send  a  fire-ship  and  burn  them. 
Half  the  shot  from  the  Treki'oner,  and  from  the 
batteries  at  Amak,  at  this  time  struck  the  surren- 
dered ships,  four  of  which  Uad  got  close  together ; 
and  the  fire  of  the  English  in  return,  was  equally, 
or  even  more  destructive  to  these  poor  devoted 
Danes.  Nelson,  who  was  as  humane  as  he  was 
brave,  was  shocked  at  this  massacre — for  such  he 
called  it — and,  with  a  presence  of  mind  peculiar  to 
himself,  and  never  more  signally  displayed  than 
now,  he  retired  into  the  stern  galley,  and  wrote 
thus  to  the  crown  prince  :  *'  Vice- Admiral  Lord  Nel- 
son has  been  commanded  to  spare  Denmark,  when 
she  no  longer  resists.  The  line  of  defence  which 
covered  her  shores  has  struck  to  the  British  flag ; 
but  if  the  firing  is  continued  on  the  part  of  Den- 
mark, he  must  set  on  fire  all  the  prizes  he  has  taken, 
without  having  the  power  of  saving  the  men  who 
have  so  nobly  defended  them.  The  brave  Danes 
are  the  brothers,  and  should  never  be  the  enemies 
of  the  English."  A  wafer  was  given  him,  but  he 
ordered  a  candle  to  be  brought  from  the  cockpit, 
and  sealed  the  letter  with  wax,  afiSxing  a  larger  seal 
than  he  ordinarily  used.  "This,"  said  he,  "is  no 
time  to  appear  hurried  and  informal."  Captain  Sir 
Frederick  Tbesiger,  who  acted  as  his  aide-de-camp, 
carried  this  letter  with  a  flag  of  truce.  Meantime 
the  fire  of  the  ships  ahead,  and  the  approach  of  the 
Ramillies  and  Defence,  from  Sir  Hyde's  division, 
which  had  now  worked  near  enough  to  alarm  the 
enemy,  though  not  to  injure  them,  silenced  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Danish  line  to  the  eastward  of  the 
Treki'oner.  That  battery,  however,  continued  its 
fire.     This  formidable  work,  owing  to  the  want  of 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


233 


the  ships  which  had  been  destined  to  attack  it,  and 
the  inadequate  force  of  Riou's  little  squadron,  was 
comparatively  uninjured ;  towards  the  close  of  the 
action  it  had  been  manned  with  nearly  fifteen  hun- 
dred men,  and  the  intention  of  storming  it,  for 
which  every  preparation  had  been  made,  was  aban- 
doned as  impracticable. 

During  Thesiger's  absence.  Nelson  sent  for  Free- 
mantle,  from  the  Ganges,  and  consulted  with  him 
and  Foley,  whether  it  was  advisable  to  advance, 
with  those  ships  which  had  sustained  least  damage, 
against  the  yet  uninjured  part  of  the  Danish  line. 
They  were  decidedly  of  opinion,  that  the  best  thing 
which  could  be  done  was,  while  the  wind  continued 
fair,  to  remove  the  fleet  out  of  the  intricate  channel, 
from  which  it  had  to  retreat.  In  somewhat  more 
than  half-an-hour  after  Thesiger  had  been  des- 
patched, the  Danish  adjutant-general,  Lindholm, 
came  bearing  a  flag  of  truce :  upon  which  the  Trek- 
roner  ceased  to  fire,  and  the  action  closed,  after 
four  hours'  continuance.  He  brought  an  inquiry 
from  the  prince,  What  was  the  object  of  Nelson's 
note?  The  British  admiral  wrote  in  reply  :  *'  Lord 
Nelson's  object  in  sending  the  flag  of  truce  was 
humanity ;  he  therefore  consents  that  hostilities 
shall  cease,  and  that  the  wounded  Danes  may  be 
taken  on  shore.  And  Lord  Nelson  will  take  his 
prisoners  out  of  the  vessels,  and  burn  or  carry  oflf 
his  prizes  as  he  shall  think  fit.  Lord  Nelson,  with 
humble  duty  to  his  royal  highness  the  prince,  will 
consider  this  the  greatest  victory  he  has  ever  gained, 
if  it  may  be  the  cause  of  a  happy  reconciliation  and 
union  between  his  own  most  gracious  sovereign  and 
his  majesty,  the  King  of  Denmark." — Sir  Frederick 
Thesiger  was  despatched  a  second  time  with  the  re- 
ply ;  and  the  Danish  adjutant-general  was  referred 
to  the  commander-in-chief  for  a  conference  upon 


W' 


234 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


this  overture.  Lindholm,  assenting  to  this,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  London,  which  was  riding  at  anchor 
full  four  miles  off ;  and  Nelson,  losing  not  one  of 
the  critical  moments  which  he  had  thus  gained, 
made  signal  for  his  leading  ships  to  weigh  in  suc- 
cession:— they  had  the  shoal  to  clear,  they  were 
much  crippled,  and  their  course  was  immediately 
under  the  guns  of  the  Trekroner. 

The  Monarch  led  the  way.  This  ship  had  re- 
ceived six-and-twenty  shot  between  wind  and  water. 
She  had  not  a  shroud  standing ;  there  was  a  double- 
headed  shot  in  the  heart  of  her  foremast  and  the 
slightest  wind  would  have  sent  every  mast  over  her 
side.*  The  imminent  danger  from  which  Nelson 
had  extricated  himself  soon  became  apparent ;  the 
Monai'ch  touched  immediately  upon  a  shoal,  over 
which  she  was  pushed  by  the  Ganges  taking  her 
amid-ships ;  the  Glatton  went  clear ;  but  the  other 
two,  the  Defiance  and  the  Elephant,  grounded  about 
a  mile  from  the  Trekroner,  and  there  remained  fixed 
for  many  hours,  in  spite  of  all  the  exertions  of  their 
wearied  crews.  The  Desiree  frigate  also,  at  the 
other  end  of  the  line,  having  gone  toward  the  close 
of  the  action  to  assist  the  Bellona,  became  fast  on 
the  same  shoal.  Nelson  left  the  Elephant,  soon 
after  she  took  the  ground,  to  follow  Lindholm. 
The  heat  of  action  was  over ;  and  that  kind  of  feel- 
ing, which  the  surrounding  scene  of  havoc  was  so 
well  fitted  to  produce,  pressed  heavily  upon  his  ex- 

*  It  would  have  been  well  if  the  fleet,  before  they  went 
under  the  batteries,  had  left  their  spare  spars  moored  out  of 
reach  of  shot.  Many  would  have  been  saved  which  were 
destroyed  lying  on  the  booms,  and  the  hurt  done  by  their 
splinters  would  have  been  saved  also.  Small  craft  could 
have  towed  them  up  when  they  were  required :  and  after 
such  an  action,  so  many  ^nust  necessarily  be  wanted,  that, 
if  those  which  were  not  in  use  were  wounded,  it  might  thus 
have  been  rendered  impossible  to  refit  the  ships. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


235 


were 
their 

could 
after 
that, 

it  thus 


bausted  spirits  The  sky  had  suddenly  become 
overcast ;  white  flags  were  waving  from  the  mast- 
heads of  so  many  shattered  ships ; — the  slaugl^ter 
had  ceased,  but  the  grief  was  to  come  ;  for  the  ac- 
count of  the  dead  was  not  yet  made  up,  and  no  man 
could  tell  for  what  friend  he  would  have  to  mourn. 
The  very  silence  which  follows  the  cessation  of  such 
a  battle  becomes  a  weight  upon  the  heart  at  first, 
rather  than  a  relief ;  and  though  the  work  of  mutual 
destruction  was  at  an  end,  the  Danbrog  was,  at  this 
time,  drifting  about  in  flames ;  presently  she  blew 
up,  while  our  boats,  which  had  put  off  in  all  direc- 
tions to  assist  her,  were  endeavoring  to  pick  up  her 
devoted  crew,  few  of  whom  could  be  saved.  The 
fate  of  these  men,  after  the  gallantry  which  they 
had  displayed,  particularly  affected  Nelson ;  for 
there  was  nothing  in  this  action  of  that  indignation 
against  the  enemy,  and  that  impression  of  retribu- 
tive justice,  which  at  the  Nile  had  given  a  sterner 
temper  to  his  mind,  and  a  sense  of  austere  delight, 
in  beholding  the  vengeance  of  which  he  was  the  ap- 
pointed minister.  The  Danes  were  an  honorable 
foe ;  they  were  of  English  mould  as  well  as  English 
blood ;  and  now  that  the  battle  had  ceased,  he  re- 
garded them  rather  as  brethren  than  as  enemies. 
There  was  another  reflection  also,  which  mingled 
with  these  melancholy  thoughts,  and  predisposed 
him  to  receive  them.  He  was  not  here  master  of  his 
own  movements,  as  at  Egypt ;  he  had  won  the  day 
by  disobeying  his  orders ;  and  in  so  far  as  he  had 
been  successful,  had  convicted  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  an  eri'or  in  judgment.  "  Well,"  said  he, 
as  he  left  the  Elephant,  '*  I  have  fought  contrary  to 
orders,  and  I  shall  perhaps  be  hanged !  Never 
mind,  let  them  ! " 

This  was  the  language  of  a  man,  who,  while  he  is 
giving  utterance  to  an  uneasy  thought,  clothes  it 


|: 


^11 


'•    :il|| 


i  n 


iriil 


I      III! 


23B 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


half  in  jest,  because  he  half  repents  that  it  has  been 
disclosed.  His  services  had  been  too  eminent  on 
th9,t  day,  his  judgment  too  conspicuous,  his  success 
too  signal,  for  any  commander,  however  jealous  of 
his  own  authority,  or  envious  of  another's  merits,  to 
express  anything  but  satisfaction  and  gratitude, 
which  Sir  Hyde  heartily  felt  and  sincerely  expressed. 
It  was  speedily  agreed  that  there  should  be  a  sus- 
pension of  hostilities  for  four  and  twenty  hours ; 
that  all  the  prizes  should  be  surrendered  and  the 
wounded  Danes  carried  on  shore.  There  was  a 
pressing  necessity  for  this ;  for  the  Danes,  either 
from  too  much  confideace  in  the  strength  of  their 
position,  and  the  difficulty  of  the  channel ;  or  sup- 
posing that  the  wounded  might  be  carried  on  shore 
during  the  action,  which  was  found  totally  imprac- 
ticable ;  or,  perhaps,  from  the  confusion  which  the 
attack  excited,  had  provided  no  surgeons ;  so  that, 
when  our  men  boarded  the  captured  ships,  they 
found  many  of  the  mangled  and  mutilated  Danes 
bleeding  to  death  for  want  of  proper  assistance ;  a 
scene,  of  all  others,  the  most  shocking  to  a  brave 
man's  feelings. 

The  boats  of  Sir  Hyde's  division  were  actively  em- 
ployed all  night  in  bringing  out  the  prizes,  and  in 
getting  afloat  tlie  ships  that  were  on  shore.  At 
day-break.  Nelson,  who  had  slept  in  his  own  ship, 
the  St.  George,  rowed  to  the  Elephant,  and  his 
delight  at  finding  her  afloat,  seemed  to  give  him  new 
life.  There  he  took  a  hasty  breakfast,  praising  the 
men  for  their  exertions,  and  then  pushed  oflf  to  the 
prizes  which  had  not  yet  been  removed.  The 
Zealand,  74,  the  last  which  struck,  had  drifted  on 
the  shoal  under  the  Trekroner ;  and  relying,  as  it 
seems,  i^pon  the  protection  which  that  battery  might 
have  afforded,  refused  to  acknowledge  herself  cap- 
tured, saying,  that,  though  it  was  true  her  flag  was 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


287 


new 
g  the 
th€ 
The 
d  on 
as  it 
night 
cap- 
was 


not  to  be  seen,  her  pendant  was  still  flying.  Nelson 
ordered  one  of  our  brigs  and  three  long-boats  to  ap- 
proach "her,  and  rowed  up  himself  to  one  of  the 
enemy's  ships  to  communicate  with  the  commodore. 
This  officer  proved  to  be  an  old  acquaintance,  whom 
he  had  k  lown  in  the  West  Indies ;  so  he  invited 
himself  on  board  ;  and  with  that  urbanity,  as  well  as 
decision,  which  always  characterised  him,  urged  his 
claim  to  the  Zealand  so  well,  that  it  was  admitted. 
The  men  from  the  boats  lashed  a  cable  round  her 
bowsprit,  and  the  gun-vessel  towed  her  away.  It  is 
affirmed,  and  probably  with  truth,  that  the  Danes 
felt  more  pain  at  beholding  this,  than  at  all  their 
misfortunes  on  the  preceding  day ;  and  one  of  the 
officers.  Commodore  Steen  Bille,  went  to  the  Tre- 
kroner  battery,  and  asked  the  commander,  why  he 
had  not  sunk  the  Zealand,  rather  than  suffer  her 
thus  to  be  carried  off  by  the  enemy  ? 

This,  was  indeed,  a  mourn^l  day  for  Copenhagen ! 
It  was  Good  Friday  ;  but  the  general  agitation,  and 
the  mourning  which  was  in  every  house,  made  all 
distinction  of  days  be  forgotten.  There  were,  at 
that  hour,  thousands  in  that  city  who  felt,  and  more, 
perhaps,  who  needed,  the  consolations  of  Christian- 
ity ; — but  few  or  none  who  could  be  calm  enough  to 
think  of  its  observances.  The  English  were  actively 
employed  in  refitting  their  own  ships,  securing  the 
prizes,  and  distributing  the  prisoners ;  the  Danes, 
in  carrying  on  shore  and  disposing  of  the  wounded 
and  the  dead.  —  It  had  been  a  murderous  action. 
Our  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  nine  hundred 
and  fifty-three.  Part  of  this  slaughter  might  have 
been  spared.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  troops 
on  board  one  of  our  ships,  asked  where  his  men 
should  be  stationed?  He  was  told  that  they  could 
be  of  no  use ;  that  they  were  not  near  enough  for 
musquetry,  and  were  not  wanted  at  the  guns ;  they 


li»-'^''jFi»ra!r;rt'*'^'tIi7i'i«.''fc.;;i;^i  >t;";i^";;^^  ^iixtitf-f--' 


288 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


ill 


m  I 


had,  therefore,  better  go  below.  This,  he  said,  was 
impossible, — it  would  be  a  disgrace  that  could  never 
be  wiped  away.  They  were,  therefore,  drawn  up 
upon  the  gangway,  to  satisfy  this  cruel  point  of 
honor ;  and  there,  without  the  possibility  of  annoy- 
ing the  enemy,  they  were  mowed  down  I  The  loss 
of  the  Danes,  including  prisoners,  amounted  to 
about  six  thousand.  The  negotiations,  meantime, 
went  on  ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  Nelson  should  have 
an  interview  with  the  prince  the  following  day. 
Hardy  and  Freemantle  landed  with  him.  This  was 
a  thing  as  unexampled  as  the  other  circumstances  of 
the  battle.  A  strong  guard  was  appointed  to  escort 
him  to  the  palace,  as  much  for  the  purpose  of  se-  i 
curity  as  of  honor.  The  populace,  according  to  the  ^ 
British  account,  showed  a  mixture  of  admiration, 
curiosity,  and  displeasure,  at  beholding  that  man  in 
the  midst  of  them  who  had  inflicted  such  wounds 
upon  Denmark.  But  there  were  neither  acclama- 
tions nor  murmurs.  "  The  people,"  says  a  Dane, 
"  did  not  degrade"  themselves  with  the  former,  nor 
disgrace  themselves  with  the  latter :  the  admiral  was 
received  as  one  brave  enemy  ever  ought  to  receive 
another :  —  he  was  received  with  respect."  The 
preliminaries  of  the  negotiation  were  adjusted  at 
this  interview.  During  the  repast  which  followed. 
Nelson,  with  all  the  sincerity  of  his  character,  bore 
willing  testimony  to  the  valor  of  his  foes.  He  told 
the  prince,  that  he  had  been  in  a  hundred  and  five 
engagements,  but  that  this  was  the  most  tremendous  ' 
of  all.  "  The  French,"  he  said,  ''  fought  bravely  ; 
but  they  could  not  have  stood  for  one  hour,  the 
fight  which  the  Danes  had  supported  for  four."  He 
requested  that  Villemoes  might  be  introduced  to 
him ;  and,  shaking  hands  with  the  youth,  told  the 
prince  that  he  ought  to  be  made  an  admiral.  The 
prince  replied :  "If,  my  Lord,  I  am  to  make  all  my 


/: 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


280 


brave  oflflccrs  admirals,  I  should  have  no  captains  or 
lieutenants  in  my  service." 

The  sympathy  of  the  Danes  for  their  countrymen 
■who  had  bled  in  their  defence,  was  not  weakened  by 
distance  of  time  or  place  in  this  instance.  Things 
needful  for  the  service,  or  the  comfort  of  the  wounded, 
were  sent  in  profusion  to  the  hospitals,  till  the  super- 
intendents gave  public  notice  that  they  could  receive 
no  more.  On  the  third  day  after  the  action  the 
dead  were  buried  in  the  naval  churchyard :  the  cere- 
mony was  made  as  public  and  as  solemn  as  the  oc- 
casion required  ; — such  a  procession  had  never  be- 
fore been  seen  in  that,  or,  perhaps,  in  any  other 
city.  A  public  monument  was  erected  upon  the  spot 
where  the  slain  were  gathered  together.  A  subscrip- 
tion was  opened  on  the  day  of  the  funeral  for  the 
relief  of  the  suflFerers,  and  collections  in  aid  of  it 
made  throughout  all  the  churches  in  the  kingdom. 
This  appeal  to  the  feelings  of  the  people  was  made 
with  circumstances  which  gave  it  full  effect.  A 
monument  was  raised  in  the  midst  of  the  church, 
surmounted  by  the  Danish  colors :  young  maidens, 
dressed  in  white,  stood  round  it,  with  either  one 
who  had  been  wounded  in  the  battle,  or  the  widow 
and  orphans  of  some  one  who  had  fallen  :  a  suitable 
oration  was  delivered  from  the  pulpit,  and  patriotic 
hymns  and  songs  were  afterwards  performed. 
Medals  were  distributed  to  all  the  officers,  and  to 
the  men  who  had  distinguished  themselves.  Poets 
and  painters  vied  with  each  other  in  celebrating  a 
battle,  which,  disastrous  as  it  was,  had  yet  been 
honorable  to  their  country :  some  with  pardonable 
sophistry,  represented  the  advantage  of  the  day  as  on 
their  own  side.  One  writer  discovered  a  more  curi- 
ous, but  less  disputable,  ground  of  satisfaction,  in 
the  reflection  that  Nelson,  as  may  be  inferred  from 
his  name,  was  of  Danish  descent,  and  his  actions, 


240 


i  I 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


irH 


m 


1 1 


*     !!! 


II      ill 


therefore,  the  Dane  argued,  were  attributable  to 
Danish  valor. 

The  negotiation  was  continued  during  the  five 
following  days ;  and,  in  that  interval,  the  prizes 
were  disposed  of  in  a  manner  which  was  little  ap- 
proved by  Nelson.  Six  line  of  battle  ships  and 
eight  praams  had  been  taken.  Of  these,  the  Hol- 
stein,  64,  was  the  only  one  which  was  sent  home. 
The  Zealand  was  a  finer  ship :  but  the  Zealand,  and 
all  the  others,  were  burnt,  and  their  brass  battering 
cannon  sunk  with  the  hulls  in  such  shoal  water,  that 
when  the  fieet  returned  from  Revel,  they  found  the 
Danes  with  craft  over  the  wrecks  employed  in  get- 
ting the  guns  up  again.  Nelson,  though  he  fore  bore 
from  any  public  expression  of  displeasure  at  seeing 
the  proofs  and  trophies  of  his  victory  destroyed, 
did  not  forget  to  represent  to  the  admiralty  the  case 
of  those  who  were  thus  deprived  of  their  prize 
money.  "  Whether,"  said  he  to  Earl  St.  Vincent, 
"  Sir  Hyde  Parker  may  mention  the  subject  to  you, 
I  know  not,  for  he  is  rich  and  does  not  want  it :  nor 
is  it,  you  will  believe  me,  any  desire  to  get  a  few 
hundred  pounds  that  actuates  me  to  address  this 
letter  to  you ;  but  justice  to  the  brave  officers  and 
men  who  fought  on  that  day.  It  is  true  our  oppo- 
nents were  in  hulks  and  floats,  only  adapted  to  the 
position  they  were  in ;  but  that  made  our  battle  so 
much  the  harder,  and  victory  so  much  the  more 


difficult  to  obtain, 
the  circumstances : 


Believe  me,  I  have  weighed  all 
and,  in  my  conscience,  I  think 
that  the  king  should  send  a  gracious  message  to  the 
house  of  commons  for  a  gift  to  this  fleet :  for  what 
must  be  the  natural  feelings  of  the  officers  and  men 
belonging  to  it,  to  see  their  rich  commander-in-chief 
burn  all  the  huits  of  their  victory, — which,  if  fitted 
up  and  sent  to  England  (as  man}^  of  them  might 
have  been  by  dismantling  part  of  our  fleet) ,  would 
have  sold  for  a  good  round  sum." 


THE  LIFE  or  NELSON. 


241 


le  to 

■ » 

I  five 
)rizes 
e  ap- 
\  and 

Hol- 
lorae. 
i,  and 
tering 
,  that 
id  the 
n  get- 
L'ebore 
seeing 
coyed, 
e  case 

prize 
ncent, 
oyou, 
t:  nor 

a  few 
(s  this 
rs  and 

oppo- 
to  the 

;tle  so 
more 

ed  all 
think 

to  the 

r  what 
men 

i-chief 
fitted 

might 

would 


{ 


On  the  9th  Nelson  landed  again,  to  conclude  the 
terms  of  the  armistice.  During  its  continuance  the 
armed  ships  and  vessels  of  Denmark  were  to  remain 
in  their  then  actual  situation,  as  to  armament, 
equipment,  and  hostile  position ;  and  the  treaty  of 
armed  neutrality,  as  far  as  related  to  the  co-opera- 
tion of  Denmark,  was  suspended.  The  prisoners 
were  to  be  sent  on  shore  ;  an  acknowledgment  being 
given  for  them,  and  for  the  wounded  also,  that  they 
might  be  carried  to  Great  Britain's  credit  in  the  ac- 
count of  war  in  case  hostilities  should  be  renewed. 
The  British  fleet  was  allowed  to  provide  itself  with 
all  things  requisite  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  its 
men.  A  difficulty  arose  respecting  the  duration  of 
the  armistice.  The  Danish  commissioners  fairly 
stated  their  fears  of  Russia ;  and  Nelson,  with  that 
frankness,  which  sound  policy  and  the  sense  of 
power  seem  often  to  require  as  well  as  justify  in 
diplomacy,  told  them  his  reason  for  demanding  a 
long  term  was,  that  he  might  have  time  to  act 
against  the  Russian  fleet,  and  then  return  to  Copen- 
hagen. Neither  party  would  yield  upon  this  point ; 
and  one  of  the  Danes  hinted  at  the  renewal  of  hos- 
tilities. **  Renew  hostilities !  **  cried  Nelson  to  one 
of  his  friends, — for  he  understood  French  enough  to 
comprehend  what  was  said,  though  not  to  answer  it 
in  the  same  language  ; — "  Tell  him  we  are  ready  at 
a  moment ! — ready  to  bombard  this  very  night ! " — 
The  conference,  however,  proceeded  amicably  on 
both  sides ;  and  as  the  commissioners  could  not 
agree  upon  this  head,  they  broke  up,  leaving  Nelson 
to  settle  it  with  the  prince.  A  levee  was  held  forth- 
with in  one  of  the  state-rooms  ;  a  scene  well  suited 
for  such  a  consultation :  for  all  these  rooms  had 
been  stript  of  their  furniture,  in  fear  of  a  bombard- 
ment. To  a  bombardment,  also.  Nelson  was  look- 
ing at  this  time :  fatigue  and  anxiety,  and  vexation 
16 


242 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


at  the  dilatory  measures  of  the  commander-in-chief, 
combined  to  make  him  irritable :  and  as  he  was  on 
the  way  to  the  prince's  dining-room,  ho  whispered 
to  the  ofl3cer  on  whose  arm  he  was  leaning, 
"Though  I  have  only  one  eye,  I  can  see  that  all 
this  will  burn  well."  After  dinner  he  was  closeted 
with  the  prince ;  and  they  agreed  that  the  armistice 
should  continue  fourteen  weeks ;  and  that  at  its 
termination,  fourteen  days*  notice  should  be  given 
before  the  recommencement  of  hostilities. 

An  official  account  of  the  battle  was  published  by 
Olfert  Fischer,  the  Danish  commander-in-chief,  in 
which  it  was  asserted  that  our  force  was  greatly 
superior ;  nevertheless,  that  two  of  our  ships  of  the 
line  had  struck,  that  the  others  were  so  weakened, 
and  especially  Lord  Nelson's  own  ship,  as  to  fire 
only  single  shots  for  an  hour  before  the  euo  *  the 
action;  and  that  this  hero  himself,  in  th-  Idle 
and  very  heat  of  the  conflict,  sent  a  flag  of  bxuce  on 
shore  to  propose  a  cessation  of  hostilities.  For  the 
t^'uth  of  this  account  the  Dane  appealed  to  the 
prince,  and  all  those  who,  like  him,  had  been  eye- 
witnesses of  the  scene.  Nelson  was  exceedingly  in- 
dignant at  such  a  statement,  and  addressed  a  letter, 
in  confutation  of  it,  to  the  adjutant-general,  Lind- 
holm;  thinking  this  incumbent  upon  him,  for  the 
information  of  the  prince,  since  his  royal  highness 
had  been  appealed  to  as  a  witness :  "  Otherwise," 
said  he,  *'  had  Commodore  Fischer  confined  himself 
to  his  own  veracity,  I  should  have  treated  his  official 
letter  with  the  contempt  it  deserved,  and  allowed 
the  world  to  appreciate  the  merits  of  the  two  con- 
tending officers."  After  pointing  out  and  detecting 
some  of  the  mis-statements  in  the  account,  he  pro- 
ceeds: *'As  to  his  nonsense  about  victory,  his 
royal  highness  will  not  much  credit  him.  [  sunk, 
burned,   captured,   or  drove  into  the  harb:)r,  the 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


243 


IS 


J\ 


-!      -.4? 


n-chief, 
!  was  on 
liispered 
leaning, 
that  all 
closeted 
irmistice 
it  at  its 
be  given 

[ished  by 
chief,  in 
3  greatly 
ps  of  the 
eakened, 
to  fire 
the 
i.    ;     Idle 
!  Liuce  on 
For  the 
^  to  the 
been  eye- 
iingly  in- 
l  a  letter, 
al,  Lind- 
for  the 
highness 
herwise," 
himself 
lis  official 
allowed 
two  con- 
detecting 
t,  he  pro- 
to'y,   his 
[  sank, 
,rt3r,  the 


whole  line  of  defence  to  the  southward  of  the 
Crown  Islands.  He  says  he  is  told  that  two  British 
ships  struck.  Why  did  he  not  take  possession  of 
them?  I  took  possession  of  his  as  fast  as  they 
struck.  The  reason  is  clear,  that  he  did  not  believe 
it ;  he  must  have  known  the  falsity  of  the  report. 
He  states,  that  the  ship  in  which  I  had  the  honor  to 
hoist  my  flag  fired  latterly  only  single  guns.  It  is 
true ;  for  steady  and  cool  were  my  brave  fellows, 
and  did  not  wish  to  throw  away  a  single  shot.  He 
seems  to  exult  that  I  sent  on  shore  a  flag  of  truce. 
You  know,  and  his  royal  highness  knows,  that  the 
guns  fired  from  the  shore  could  only  fire  through  the 
Danish  ships  which  had  surrendered,  and  that,  if  I 
fired  at  the  shore,  it  could  only  be  in  the  same  man- 
ner, God  forbid  that  I  should  destroy  an  um'esist- 
ing  Dane !  When  they  became  my  prisoners,  I  be- 
came their  protector." 

This  letter  was  written  in  terms  of  great  asperity 
against  the  Danish  commander.  Lindholm  replied 
in  a  manner  every  way  honorable  to  himself.  He 
vindicated  the  commodore  in  some  points,  and  ex- 
cused him  in  others,  reminding  Nelson  that  every 
commander-in-chief  was  liable  to  receive  incorrect 
reports.  With  a  natural  desire  to  represent  the 
action  in  a  most  favorable  light  to  Denmark,  he 
took  into  the  comparative  strength  of  the  two  par- 
ties the  ships  which  were  aground,  and  which  could 
not  get  into  action :  and  omitted  the  Trekroner  and 
the  batteries  upon  Amak  Island.  He  disclaimed  all 
idea  of  claiming  as  a  victory,  "  what  to  every  intent 
and  purpose,"  said  he,  "  was  a  defeat,  but  not  an 
inglorious  one.  As  to  your  lordship's  motive  for 
sending  a  flag  of  truce,  it  never  can  be  miscon- 
strued ;  and  your  subsequent  conduct  has  sufficiently 
shown  that  humanity  is  always  the  companion  of 
true  valor.    Tou  have  done  more :  you  have  shown 


244 


THE  LIFE  or  NELSON. 


;"i 


yourself  a  friend  to  the  re-establi-shment  a  peace 
and  good  harmony  between  this  country  and  Great 
Britain.  It  is,  therefore,  with  the  sincerest  esteem 
I  shall  always  feel  myself  attached  to  your  lord- 
ship." Thus  handsomely  winding  up  his  reply,  he 
soothed  and  contented  Nelson ;  who,  drawing  up  a 
memorandum  of  the  comparative  force  of  the  two 
parties,  for  his  own  satisfaction,  assured  Lindholm, 
that  if  the  commodore's  statement  had  been  in  the 
same  manly  and  honorable  strain,  he  would  have 
been  the  last  man  to  have  noticed  any  little  inaccu- 
racies which  might  get  into  a  commander-in-chief's 
public  letter. 

For  the  battle  of  Copenhagen,  Nelson  was  raised 
to  the  rank  of  viscount :  an  inadequate  mark  of  re- 
ward for  services  so  splendid,  and  of  such  para- 
mount importance  to  the  dearest  interests  of  Eng- 
land. There  was,  however,  some  prudence  in  deal- 
ing out  honors  to  him  step  by  step ;  had  he  lived 
long  enough,  he  would  have  fought  his  way  up  to  a 
dukedom. 


VL  peace 
d  Grreat 
;  esteem 
uv  lord- 
•eply,  he 
ing  np  a 
the  two 
indholm, 
m  iu  the 
iild  have 
e  inaccu- 
in-chief's 

-r 

as  raised 
»rk  of  re- 
ich  para- 
i  of  Eng- 
e  in  deal- 
he  lived 
y  up  to  a 


The  Etiglish  Squadron  before  Gibraltar. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

T17HEN  Nelson  informed  Earl  St.  Vincent  that 
^^  the  armistice  had  been  concluded,  he  told  him 
also,  without  reserve,  his  own  discontent  at  the  dil- 
atoriness  and  indecision  which  he  witnessed,  and 
could  not  remedy.  "  No  man,"  said  he,  "  but 
those  who  are  on  the  spot,  can  tell  what  I  have  gone 
through,  and  do  suffer.  I  make  no  scruple  in  say- 
ing, that  I  would  have  been  at  Revel  fourteen  days 
ago !  that,  without  this  armistice,  the  fleet  would 
never  have  gone,  but  by  order  of  the  admiralty ; 
and  with  it,  I  dare  say,  we  shall  not  go  this  week. 
I  wanted  Sir  Hyde  to  let  me,  at  least  go  and  cruise 
off  Carlscrona,  to  prevent  the  Revel  ships  from  get- 
ting in.  I  said  I  would  not  go  to  Revel  to  take  any 
of  those  laurels  which  I  was  sure  he  would  reap 


246 


THE  lilFB  OP  NELSON. 


¥11: 


im 


•■»; 


m  ^ 


there.  Think  for  me,  my  dear  lord ; — and  if  I  have 
deserved  well,  let  me  return :  if  ill,  for  Heaven's 
sake  supersede  me, — for  I  cannot  exist  in  this  state." 
Fatigue,  incessant  anxiety,  and  a  climate  little 
suited  to  one  of  a  tender  constitution,  which  had 
now  for  many  years  been  accustomed  to  more  genial 
latitudes,  made  him,  at  this  time,  seriously  deter- 
mined upon  returning  home.  "  If  th«  northern 
business  were  not  settled,"  he  said,  "  they  nmst 
send  more  admirals ;  for  the  keen  air  of  the  north 
had  cut  him  to  the  heart."  He  felt  the  want  of  ac- 
tivity and  decision  in  the  commander-in-chief  more 
keenly,  and  this  affected  his  spirits,  and,  conse- 
quently, his  health,  more  than  the  inclemency  of  the 
Baltic.  Soon  after  the  armistice  was  signed.  Sir 
Hyde  proceeded  to  the  eastward,  with  such  ships  as 
were  fit  for  service,  leaving  Nelson  to  follow  with 
the  rest,  as  soon  as  those  which  had  received  slight 
damages  should  be  repaired,  and  the  rest  sent  to 
England.  In  passing  between  the  isles  of  Amak 
and  Saltholm,  most  of  the  ships  touched  the  ground, 
and  some  of  them  stuck  fast  for  a  while ;  no  oeri- 
ous  injury,  however,  was  sustained.  It  was  in- 
tended to  act  against  the  Russians  first,  before  the 
breaking  up  of  the  frost  should  enable  them  to  leave 
Revel ;  but  learning  on  the  way,  that  the  Swedes 
had  put  to  sea  to  effect  a  junction  with  them.  Sir 
Hyde  altered  his  course,  in  hopes  of  intercepting 
this  part  of  the  enemy's  force.  Nelson  had,  at  this 
time,  provided  for  the  more  pressing  emergencies 
of  the  service,  and  prepared,  on  the  18th,  to  follow 
the  fleet.  The  St.  George  drew  too  much  water  to 
pass  the  channel  between  the  isles  without  being 
lightened :  the  guns  were  therefore  taken  out,  and 
put  on  board  an  American  vessel :  a  contrary  wind, 
however,  prevented  Nelson  from  moving ;  and  on 
that  same  evening,  while  he  was  thus  delayed,  in- 


y^ 


■^n 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


247 


I  have 
javen's 
state." 
e  little 
ch  had 
i  genial 
'  deter- 
orthern 
y  must 
le  north 
t  of  ac- 
3f  more 
conse- 
y  of  the 
led,  Sir 
ships  as 
[ow  with 
A  slight 
sent  to 
f  Amak 
ground, 
no  oeri- 
was  in- 
fore  the 
to  leave 
Swedes 
hem,  Sir 
rcepting 
at  this 
Tgencies 
o  follow 
water  to 
it  being 
out,  and 
ry  wind, 
and  on 
ived,  in- 


formation  reached  him  of  the  relative  situation  of 
the  Swedish  and  British  fleets,  and  the  probability 
of  an  action.  The  fleet  was  nearly  ten  leagues  dis- 
tant ;  anvi  both  wind  and  cuiTcnt  contrary ;  but  it 
vv'as  not  possible  that  Nelson  could  wait  for  a  favor- 
able season  under  such  an  expectation.  He  ordered 
his  boat  immediately,  and  stepped  into  it.  Night 
was  setting  in, — one  of  the  cold  spring  nights  of 
the  ijorth, — and  it  was  discovered  soon  after  they 
had  left  the  ship,  that,  in  their  haste,  they  had  for- 
gotten to  provide  him  with  a  boat  cloak.  He,  how- 
ever, forbade  them  to  return  for  one :  and  when 
one  of  his  companions  offered  his  own  great  coat, 
and  urged  him  to  make  use  of  it,  he  replied ;  ^'  I 
thank  you  very  much, — but,  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
my  anxiety  keeps  me  suflSciently  warm  at  present." 
"  Do  you  think,"  said  he,  presently,  "  that  our 
fleet  has  quitted  Bornholm?  If  it  has,  we  must 
follow  it  to  Carlscrona."  About  midnight  he  reached 
it,  and  once  more  got  on  board  the  Elephant.  On 
the  following  morning  the  Swedes  were  discovered  ; 
as  soon,  however,  as  they  perceived  the  English  ap- 
proaching, they  retired  and  took  shelter  in  Carls- 
crona, behind  the  batteries  on  the  island,  at  the 
entrance  of  that  port.  Sir  Hyde  sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce,  stating,  that  Denmark  had  concluded  an 
armistice,  and  requiring  an  explicit  declaration  from 
the  court  of  Sweden,  whether  it  would  adhere  to, 
or  abandon  the  hostile  measures  which  it  had  taken 
against  the  rights  and  interests  of  Great  Britain? 
Tho  commander,  Vice-Admiral  Cronstadt,  replied, 
"That  he  could  not  answer  a  question  which  did 
not  come  within  the  particular  circle  of  his  duty ; 
but  that  the  king  was  then  at  Maloe,  and  would 
soon  be  at  Carlscrona."  Gusiavus  shortly  after- 
wards srrived,  and  an  answer  was  then  returned  to 
this  effect*  "That  his  Swedish  Majesty  would  not, 


848 


TBE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


(. 


for  a  moment,  fail  to  fulfil,  with  fidelity  and  sin- 
cerity, the  engagements  he  had  entered  into  with 
his  allies ;  but  he  would  not  refuse  to  listen  to  equit- 
able proposals  made  by  deputies  furnished  with 
proper  authority  by  the  King  of  (Jreat  Britain  to 
the  united  northern  powers."  Satisfied  with  this 
answer,  and  with  the  known  disposition  of  the 
Swedish  court.  Sir  Hyde  sailed  for  the  Guk  of 
Finland ;  but  he  had  not  proceeded  far,  before  a 
despatch  boat,  from  the  Russian  ambassador  at 
Copenhagen,  arrived,  bringing  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  the  Emperor  Paul ;  and  that  his  successor, 
Alex^inder,  had  accepted  the  offer  made  by  Eng- 
land to  his  father,  of  terminating  the  dispute  by  a 
convention ;  the  British  admiral  was  ther'^.fore  re- 
quired to  desist  from  all  further  hostilities. 

It  was  Nelson's  maxim  that,  to  negotiate  with 
effect,  force  should  be  at  hand,  and  in  a  situation 
to  act.  The  fleet,  having  been  reinforced  from  Eng- 
land, amounted  to  eighteen  sail  of  the  line  ;  and  the 
wind  was  fair  for  Revel.  There  he  would  have 
sailed  immediately  to  place  himself  between  that 
division  of  the  Russian  fleet  and  the  squadron  at 
Cronstadt,  in  case  this  offer  should  prove  insincere. 
Sir  Hyde,  on  the  other  hand,  believed  that  the  death 
of  Paul  had  effected  all  that  was  necessary.  The 
manner  of  that  death,  indeed,  rendered  it  apparent 
that  a  change  of  policy  would  take  place  iu  the  cab- 
inet of  Petersburg : — but  Nelson  never  trusted  any- 
thing to  the  uncertain  events  of  time,  which  could 
possibly  be  secured  by  promptitude  or  resolution. 
It  was  not,  therefore,  without  severe  mortification 
that  he  saw  the  commander-in-chief  return  to  the 
coast  of  Zealand,  and  anchor  in  Kioge  Bay ;  there 
to  wait  patiently  for  what  might  happen. 

There  the  fleet  remained,  till  despatches  arrived 
from  home,  on  the  5th  of  May,  recalling  Sir  Hyde 
and  appointing  Nelson  commander-in-chief. 


.   "•  \ 


ty  and  sin- 
d  into  with 
ten  to  equit- 
nishcd  with 
t  Britain  to 
d  with  this 
tion  of    the 
;he  Guk   of 
ar,  before  a 
ibassador   at 
ence  of  the 
is  successor, 
ide  by  Eng- 
dispute  by  a 
ther'^fore  re-v 
iies. 

jgotiate  with 
1  a  situation 
id  from  Eng- 
line ;  and  the 
would  have 
between  that 
squadron  at 
)ve  insincere. 
;hat  the  death 
essary.    The 
d  it  apparent 
e  iu  the  cab- 
trusted  any- 
which  could 
)r  resolution, 
mortification 
eturn  to  the 
e  Bay ;  there 
n. 

.tches  arrived 
ing  Sir  Hyde 
jhief. 


'A , 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


249 


Nelson  wrote  to  Earl  St.  Vincent  that  he  was 
unable  to  hold  this  honorable  station.  Admiral 
Graves  also  was  so  ill,  as  to  be  confined  to  his  bed ; 
and  he  entreated  that  some  person  might  come  out 
and  take  the  command.  **  I  will  endeavor,"  said 
he,  **  to  do  my  best  while  I  remain,  but,  my  dear 
lord,  I  shall  either  soon  go  to  heaven ^  I  hope,  or 
must  rest  quiet  for  a  time.  If  Sir  Hyde  were  gone, 
I  would  now  be  under  sail."  On  the  day  when  this 
was  written  he  received  news  of  his  appointment. 
Not  a  moment  was  now  lost.  His  first  signal,  as 
commander-in-chief,  was  to  hoist  in  all  launches, 
and  prepare  to  weigh :  and  on  the  7th  he  sailed 
from  Kioge.  Part  of  his  fleet  was  left  at  Bornholm, 
to  watch  the  Swedes  :  from  whom  he  required,  and 
obtained,  an  assurance,  that  the  British  trade  in  the 
Cattegat,  and  in  the  Baltic,  should  not  be  molested ; 
and  saying  how  unpleasant  it  would  be  to  him  if 
anything  should  happen  which  might,  for  a  moment, 
disturb  the  returning  harmony  between  Sweden  and 
Great  Britain,  he  apprised  them  that  he  was  not 
directed  to  abstain  from  hostilities  should  he  meet 
with  the  Swedish  fleet  at  sea.  Meantime,  he  him- 
self, with  ten  sail  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  a  brig, 
and  a  schooner,  made  for  the  Gulf  of  Finland. 
Paul,  in  one  of  the  freaks  of  his  tyranny,  had  seized 
upon  all  the  British  effects  in  Russia,  and  even  con- 
sidered British  subjects  as  his  prisoners.  "  I  will 
have  all  the  English  shipping  and  property  re- 
stored," said  Nelson,  "but  I  will  do  nothing  vio- 
lently,— neither  commit  the  affairs  of  my  country, 
nor  suffer  Russia  to  mix  the  affairs  of  Denmark  or 
Sweden  with  the  detention  of  our  ships."  The 
wind  was  fair,  and  carried  him  in  four  davs  to 
Revel  Roads.  But  the  bav  had  been  clear  of  firm 
ice  on  the  29th  of  April,  while  the  English  were 
lying  idly  at  Kioge.     The  Russians  had  cut  through 


m 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


\ 


fche  ice  in  the  mole  six  feet  thick,  and  their  whole 
squadron  had  sailed  for  Cronstaclt  on  the  third. 
Before  that  time  it  had  lain  at  the  mercy  of  the 
English. — '*  Nothing,"  Nelson  said,  "if  it  had  been 
right  to  make  the  attack,  could  have  saved  one  ship 
of  them  in  two  hours  after  our  entering  the  bay." 

It  so  happened  that  there  was  no  cause  to  regret 
the  opportunity  which  had  been  lost,  and  Nelson 
immediately  put  the  intentions  of  Russia  to  the 
proof.  He  sent  on  shore  to  say,  that  he  came  with 
friendly  views,  and  was  ready  to  return  a  salute. 
On  their  part  the  salute  was  delayed,  till  a  message 
was  sent  to  them  to  inquire  for  what  reason :  and 
the  office  r,  whose  neglect  had  occasioned  the  delay, 
was  put  under  arrest.  Nelson  wrote  to  the  emperor, 
proposing  to  wait  on  him  personally,  and  congratu- 
late him  on  his  accession,  and  urged  the  immediate 
release  of  British  subjects,  and  restoration  of  Brit- 
ish property. 

The  answer  an'ived  on  the  16th  :  Nelson,  mean- 
time, had  exchanged  visits  with  the  governor,  and 
the  most  friendly  intercourse  had  subsisted  between 
the  ships  and  the  shore.  Alexander's  ministers,  in 
their  reply,  expressed  their  surprise  at  the  arrival  of 
a  British  fleet  in  a  Russian  port,  and  their  wish  that 
it  should  return:  they  professed,  on  the  part  of 
Russia,  the  most  friendly  disposition  towards  Great 
Britain ;  but  declined  the  personal  visit  of  Lord 
Nelson,  unless  he  came  in  a  single  ship.  There  was 
a  suspicion  implied  in  this,  which  stung  Nelson  ;  and 
he  said  the  Russian  ministers  would  never  have 
written  thus  if  their  fleet  had  been  at  Revel.  He 
wrote  an  immediate  reply,  expressing  what  he  felt : 
he  told  the  court  of  Petersburg,  "  That  the  word  of 
a  British  admiral,  when  given  in  explanation  of  any 
part  of  his  conduct,  was  as  sacred  as  that  of  any 
sovereign  in  Europe."    And  he  repeated,  "That, 


-m 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


251 


>t 


nnder  other  circumstances,  it  would  have  been  his 
anxious  wish  to  have  paid  his  personal  respects  to 
the  emperor,  and  signed  with  his  own  hand  the  act 
of  amity  between  the  two  countries."  Having  des- 
patched this,  he  stood  out  to  sea  immediately,  leav- 
ing a  brig  to  bring  off  the  provisions  which  had 
been  contracted  for,  and  to  settle  the  accounts. 
**  I  hope  all  is  right,"  said  he,  writing  to  our  ambas- 
sador at  Berlin ;  ^^  but  seamen  are  but  bad  negotia- 
tors ;  for  we  put  to  issue  in  five  minutes  what  diplo- 
matic forms  would  be  five  months  doing." 

On  his  way  down  the  Baltic,  however,  he  met  the 
Russian  Admiral  Tchitchagof,  whom  the  emperor, 
in  reply  to  Sir  Hyde's  overtures,  had  sent  \o  com- 
municate personally  with  the  British  commander-in- 
chief.  The  reply  was  such  as  had  been  wished  and 
expected:  and  these  negotiators  going,  seaman- 
like, straight  to  their  object,  satisfied  each  other  of 
the  friendly  intentions  of  their  respective  govern- 
ments. Nelson  then  anchored  off  Rostock ;  and 
there  he  received  an  answer  to  his  last  despatch 
from  Revel,  in  which  the  Russian  court  expressed 
their  regret  that  there  should  have  been  any  miscon- 
ception between  them,  informed  him  that  the  Bri- 
tish vessels  which  Paul  had  detained  were  ordered  to 
be  liberated,  and  invited  him  to  Petersburg  in  what- 
ever mode  might  be  most  agreeable  to  himself. 
Other  honors  awaited  him:  the  Duke  of  Mecklen- 
burg Strelitz,  the  queen's  brother,  came  to  visit  him 
on  board  his  ship  ;  and  towns  of  the  inland  parts  of 
Mecklenburg  sent  deputations,  with  their  public 
books  of  record,  that  they  might  have  the  name  of 
Nelson  in  them  written  by  his  own  hand. 

From  Rostock,  the  fleet  returned  to  Kioge  Bay. 
Nelson  saw  that  the  temper  of  the  Danes  towards 
England,  was  such  as  naturally  arose  from  the  chas- 
tisement which  they  had  so  recently  received.     "  In 


r/ 


I 


262 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


« 


I 


'1^ 


this  nation/'  said  he,  ^^  we  shall  not  be  forgiven  for 
having  the  upper  hand  of  them :  I  only  thank  God 
we  have,  or  they  would  try  to  humble  us  to  the 
dust."  He  saw  also  that  the  Danish  cabinet  was 
completely  subservient  to  France :  a  French  officer 
was  at  this  time  the  companion  and  counsellor  of 
the  crown-prince ;  and  things  were  done  in  such 
open  violation  of  the  armistice,  that  Nelson  thought 
a  second  infliction  of  vengeance  woild  soon  be 
necessary.  H^  wrote  to  the  admiralty,  requesting 
a  clear  and  ex^^iicit  reply  to  his  inquiry :  whether 
the  commander-in-chief  was  at  liberty  to  hold  the 
language  becoming  a  British  admiral?  "Which, 
very  probably,"  said  he,  "if  I  am  here,  will  break 
the  armistice,  and  set  Copenhagen  in  a  blaze.  I 
see  everything  which  is  dirty  and  mean  going  on, 
and  the  prince-royal  at  the  head  of  it.  Ships  have 
been  masted,  guns  taken  on  board,  floating  batteries 
prepared,  and,  except  hauling  out  and  completing 
their  rigging,  everything  is  done,  in  defiance  of  the 
treaty.  My  heart  burns  at  seeing  the  word  of  a 
prince,  nearly  allied  to  our  good  king,  so  falsified ; 
but  his  conduct  is  such,  that  he  will  lose  his  king- 
dom if  he  goes  on,  for  Jacobins  rule  in  Denmark. 
I  have  made  no  representations  yet,  as  it  would  be 
useless  to  do  so  until  I  have  the  power  of  correc- 
tion. All  I  beg,  in  the  name  of  the  future  com- 
mander-in-chief, is,  that  the  orders  may  be  clear ; 
for  enough  is  done  to  break  twenty  treaties  if  it 
should  be  wished,  or  to  make  the  prince-royal  hum- 
ble himself  before  British  generosity." 

Nelson  was  not  deceived  in  his  judgment  of  the 
Danish  cabinet,  but  the  battle  of  Copenhagen  had 
crippled  its  power.  The  death  of  the  Czar  Paul 
had  broken  the  confederacy ;  and  that  cabinet, 
therefore,  was  compelled  to  defer,  till  a  more  con- 
venient season,  the  indulgence  of  its  enmity  towards 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


268 


the 
had 
Paul 
inet, 
con- 
ards 


Great  Britain.  Soon  afterwards,  Admiral  Sir 
Charles  Maurice  Pole  arrived  to  take  tlie  command. 
The  business,  military  and  politi(!al,  hnd  by  that 
time  been  so  far  completed,  that  the  presence  of  the 
British  fleet  soon  became  no  longer  necessary.  Sir 
Charles,  however,  made  the  short  time  of  his  com- 
mand memorable,  by  passing  the  Great  Belt  for  the 
first  time,  with  line  of  battle  ships  ;  working  through 
the  channel  against  adverse  winds.  When  Nelson 
left  the  fleet,  this  speedy  termination  of  the  expe- 
dition, though  confidently  ex^yccted,  was  not  cer- 
tain ;  and  he,  in  his  unwillingness  to  weaken  the 
British  force,  thought  at  om,  time  of  traversing  Jut- 
land in  his  boat,  bv  the  canal,  to  Tonningen  on  the 
Eyder,  and  finding  his  way  home  from  thence. 
This  intention  was  not  p?:  .  cuted  ;  but  he  returned  in 
a  brig,  declining  to  accept  a  frigate :  which  few 
admirals  would  h  .'» ^  done  ;  espe jially,  if,  like  him, 
they  suffered  frcn  wea-sickness  in  a  small  vessel. 
On  his  arrival  at  Yarmouth,  the  first  thing  he  did 
was  to  visit  the  hospital,  and  see  the  men  who  had 
been  wounded  in  the  late  battle  :  that  victory  which 
had  added  new  glory  to  the  name  of  Nelson,  and 
which  was  of  more  importance,  even  than  the  battle 
of  the  Nile,  to  the  honor,  the  strength,  and  security 
of  England. 

He  had  not  been  many  weeks  on  shore  before  he 
was  called  upon  to  undertake  a  service,  for  which 
no  Nels' rt  was  required.  Bonaparte,  who  was  now 
first  consul,  and  in  reality  sole  ruler  of  France,  was 
making  preparations,  upon  a  great  scale,  for  invad- 
ing England ;  but  his  schemes  in  the  Baltic  had 
been  baflled;  fleets  could  not  be  created  as  they 
were  wanted ;  and  his  armies,  therefore,  were  to 
come  over  in  gun-boats,  and  such  small  craft  as 
could  be  rapidly  built  or  collected  for  the  occasion. 
From  the    former  governments    of    France,   such 


THE  LIFE  OF  KELJSOK. 


threats  have  only  been  matter  of  insult  or  policy : 
in  Bonaparte  they  were  sincere  ;  for  this  adventurer, 
intoxicated  with  success,  already  began  to  imagine 
that  all  things  were  to  be  submitted  to  his  fortune. 
We  had  not  at  that  time  proved  the  superiority  of 
our  soldiers  over  the  French ;  and  the  unreflecting 
multitude  were  not  to  be  persuaded  that  an  invasion 
could  only  be  effected  by  numerous  and  powerful 
fleets.  A  general  alarm  was  excited :  and,  in  con- 
descension to  this  unworthy  feeling,  Nelson  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  command  extending  from  Orfordness 
to  Betichy  Head,  on  both  shores : — a  sort  of  ser- 
vice, he  said,  for  which  he  felt  no  other  ability  than 
what  might  be  found  in  his  zeal. 

To  this  service,  however,  such  as  it  was,  he  ap- 
plied with  his  wonted  alacrity ;  and  having  hoisted 
his  flag  in  the  Medusa  frigate,  he  went  to  reconnoitre 
Boulogne ;  the  point  from  which  it  was  supposed  the 
great  attempt  would  be  made,  and  which  the  French, 
in  fear  of  an  attack  themselves,  were  fortifying  with- 
al! care.  He  approached  near  enough  to  sink  two 
of  their  floating  batteries,  and  destroy  a  few  gun- 
boats which  were  without  the  pier;  what  damage 
was  done  within  could  not  be  ascertained.  "  Bou- 
logne," he  said,  "  was  certainly  not  a  very  pleasant 
place  that  morning : — but,"  he  added,  "it  is  not 
my  wish  to  injure  the  poor  inhabitants ;  and  the 
town  is  spared  as  much  as  the  nature  of  the  service 
will  admit."  Enough  was  done  to  show  the  enemy 
that  they  could  not,  with  impunity,  come  outside 
their  own  ports.  Nelson  was  satisfied,  by  what  he 
saw,  that  they  meant  to  make  an  attempt  from  this 
place,  but  that  it  was  impracticable ;  for  the  least 
wind  at  W.  N.  "W.,  and  they  were  lost.  The  ports 
of  Flushing  and  Flanders  were  better  points ;  there 
we  could  not  tell  by  our  eyes  what  means  of  trans- 
port were  provided.     From  thence,  therefore,  if  it 


\  ' 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


256 


olicy : 
iturer, 
lagine 
rtune. 
dty  of 
ecting 
vasioQ 
werful 
a  con- 
ras  ap- 
rdness 
jf  ser- 
;y  than 

he  ap- 
lioisted 
Qnoitre 
sed  the 
French, 
ig  with- 
Qk  two 
w  gun- 
lamage 
"  Bou- 
leasant 
is  not 
•nd  the 
service 
enemy 
outside 
vhat  he 
om  this 
le  least 
e  ports 
;  there 
■  trans- 
e,  if  it 


came  forth  at  all,  the  expedition  would  come :— - 
*'  And  what  a  forlorn  undertaking  !  "  said  he :  "  con- 
sider cross-tides,  etc.  As  for  rowing,  that  is  im- 
possible. It  is  perfectly  right  to  be  prepared  for  a 
mad  government :  but  with  the  active  force  which 
has  been  given  me,  I  may  pronounce  it  almost  im- 
practicable." 

That  force  had  been  got  together  with  an  alacrity 
which  has  seldom  been  equalled.  On  the  28th  of 
July  we  were,  in  Nelson's  own  words,  literally  at 
the  foundation  of  our  fabric  of  defence :  and  twelve 
days  afterwards  we  were  so  prepared  on  the  enemy's 
coast,  that  he  did  not  believe  they  could  get  three 
miles  from  their  ports.  The  Medusa,  returning  to 
our  own  shores,  anchored  in  the  rolling  ground  off 
Harwich ;  and,  when  Nelson  wished  to  get  to  the 
Nore  in  her,  the  wind  rendered  it  impossible  to  pro- 
ceed there  by  the  usual  channel.  In  haste  to  be  at 
the  Nore,  remembering  that  he  had  been  a  tolerable 
pilot  for  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  in  his  younger 
days,  and  thinking  it  necessary  that  he  should  know 
all  that  could  be  >nown  of  the  navigation,  he  re- 
quested the  maritime  surveyor  of  the  coast,  Mr. 
Spence,  to  get  him  into  the  Swin,  by  any  channel : 
for  neither  the  pilots  whom  he  had  on  board,  nor 
the  Harwich  ones,  would  take  charge  of  the  ship. 
No  vessel  drawing  more  than  fourteen  feet  had  ever 
before  ventured  over  the  Naze.  Mr.  Spence,  how- 
ever, who  had  surveyed  the  channel,  carried  her 
safely  through.  The  channel  has  since  been  called 
Nelson's,  though  he  himself  wished  it  to  be  named 
after  the  Medusa :  his  name  needed  no  new  memo- 
rial. 

Nelson's  eye  was  upon  Flushing. — ^'  To  take  pos- 
session of  that  place,"  he  said,  "  would  be  a  week's 
expedition  for  four  or  five  thousand  troops."  This, 
however,  required  a  consultation  with  the  admiralty ; 


266 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


and  that  something  might  be  done  meantime,  he 
resolved  upon  attacking  the  flotilla  in  the  mouth  of 
Boulogne  harbor.  This  resolution  was  made  in 
deference  to  the  opinion  of  others,  and  to  the  public 
feeling  which  was  so  preposterously  excited.  He 
himself  scrupled  not  to  assert,  that  the  French 
army  would  never  embark  at  Boulogne  for  the  in- 
vasion of  England ;  and  he  owned,  that  his  boat- 
warfare  was  not  congenial  to  his  feelings.  Into 
Helvoet  or  Flushing,  he  should  be  happy  to  lead,  if 
government  turned  their  thoughts  that  way.  '  *  While 
I  serve,"  said  he,  "  I  will  do  it  actively,  and  to  the 
very  best  of  my  abilities. — I  require  nursing  like  a 
child,"  he  added,  '*  my  mind  carries  me  beyond  my 
strength,  and  will  do  me  up  :  but  such  is  my  nature." 
The  attack  was  made  by  the  boats  of  the  squadron 
in  five  divisions,  under  Captain  Somerville,  Parker, 
Cotgrave,  Jones,  and  Conn.  The  previous  essay 
had  taught  the  French  the  weak  parts  of  their 
position ;  and  they  omitted  no  means  of  strength- 
ening it,  and  of  guarding  against  the  expected  at- 
tempt. The  boats  put  off  about  half  an  hour  before 
midnight ;  buL,  owing  to  the  darkness,  and  tide  and 
half  tide,  which  must  always  make  night  attacks  so 
uncertain  on  the  coasts  of  the  channel,  the  divisions 
separated.  One  could  not  arrive  at  all ;  another  not 
till  near  day-break.  The  others  made  their  attack 
gallantly  ;  but  the  enemy  were  fully  prepared :  every 
vessel  was  defended  by  long  poles,  headed  with  iron 
spikes,  projecting  from  their  sides  :  strong  nettings 
were  braced  up  to  their  lower  yards ;  they  were 
moored  by  the  bottom  to  the  shore ;  they  were 
strongly  manned  with  soldiers,  and  protected  by 
land-batteries,  and  the  shore  was  lined  with  troops. 
Many  were  taken  possession  of ;  and,  though  they 
could  not  have  been  brought  out,  would  have  been 
burned,  had  not  the  French  resorted  to  a  mode 


;irl( 


V' 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


267 


ne,  he 
mth  of 
ade  in 
i  public 
i.    He 
French 
the  in- 
»  boat- 
Into 
lead,  if 
■'While 
i  to  the 
g  like  a 
ond  my 
lature." 
quadron 
Parker, 
IS  essay 
of  their 
trength- 
icted  at- 
ir  bef  or'^ 
tide  and 
;tacks  so 
iivisions 
)ther  not 
ir  attack 
d :  every 
fvith  iron 
nettings 
ley  were 
ley   were 
jcted  by 
troops, 
igh  they 
we  been 
a  mode 


of  offence,  which  they  have  often  used,  but  which 
no  other  people  have  ever  been  wicked  enough  to 
employ.  The  moment  the  firing  ceased  on  board 
one  of  their  own  vessels,  they  fired  upon  it  from  the 
shore,  perfectly  regardless  of  their  own  men. 

The  commander  of  one  of  the  French  divisions 
acted  like  a  generous  enemy.  He  hailed  the  boats 
as  they  approached,  and  cried  out  in  English,  "  Let 
me  advise  you,  my  brave  Englishmen,  to  keep  your 
distance :  you  can  do  nothing  here ;  and  it  is  only 
uselessly  shedding  the  blood  of  brave  men  to  make 
the  attempt."  The  French  official  account  boasted 
of  the  victory.  "  The  combat,"  it  said,  "  took  place 
in  sight  of  both  countries ;  it  was  the  first  of  the 
kind,  and  the  historian  would  have  cause  to  make 
this  remark."  They  guessed  our  loss  at  four  or  five 
hundred :  it  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
two.  In  his  private  letters  to  the  admiralty.  Nelson 
affirmed  that  had  our  force  arrived  as  he  intended, 
it  was  not  all  the  chains  in  France  which  could  have 
prevented  our  men  from  bringing  off  the  whole  of 
the  vessels.  There  had  been  no  error  committed, 
and  never  did  Englishmen  display  more  courage. 
Upon  this  point  Nelson  was  fully  satisfied  ;  but  he 
said  he  should  never  bring  himself  again  to  allow  any 
attack  wherein  he  was  not  personally  concerned  ;  and 
that  his  mind  suffered  more  than  i  i  hie  had  had  a  leg 
shot  off  in  the  affair.  He  griev..a  j particularly  foi 
Captain  Parker,  an  excellent  officer,  to  whom  he  was 
greatly  attached,  and  who  had  an  aged  father  look- 
ing to  him  for  assistance.  His  th5gh  was  shattered 
in  the  action ;  and  the  wound  proved  mortal,  after 
some  weeks  of  suffering  and  manly  resignation. 
During  this  interval.  Nelson's  anxiety  was  very 
great. — *'  Dear  Parker  is  my  child,"  said  he,  "  for  I 
found  him  in  distress."  And,  when  he  received  the 
tidings  of  his  death,  he  replied  : — "  Yon  will  judge 
17 


258 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


m 

r,  ' 

inn 


m^ 


S''|-!i 


miP-'^i 


li;::|  I 


;!!{l;il 


of  my  feelings  :  God's  will  be  done.  I  beg  that  his 
hair  may  be  cut  of  and  given  me  ;  it  shall  be  buried 
in  my  grave.  Poor  Mr.  Parker !  what  a  son  has  he 
lost !  If  I  were  to  say  I  was  content,  I  should  lie  ; 
but  I  shall  endeavor  to  submit  with  all  the  fortitude 
in  my  power.  His  loss  has  made  a  wound  in  my 
heart,  which  time  will  hardly  heal." 

He  now  wished  to  be  relieved  from  this  service. 
The  country,  he  said,  had  attached  a  confidence  to 
his  name,  which  he  had  aubmitted  to,  and  therefore 
had  cheerfully  repaired  to  the  station ; — but  this 
boat  business,  though  it  might  be  part  of  a  great 
plan  of  invasion,  could  never  be  the  only  one,  and 
he  did  not  think  it  was  a  command  for  e  vice- 
admiral.  It  was  not  that  he  wanted  a  more  lucra- 
tive situation ;  for,  seriously  indisposed  as  he  was, 
and  low-spirited  from  private  considerations,  he  did 
not  know  if  the  Mediterranean  were  vacant,  that  he 
should  be  equal  to  undertake  it.  Just  at  this  time 
the  peace  of  Amiens  was  signed.  Nelson  rejoiced 
that  the  experiment  was  made,  but  was  well  aware 
that  it  was  an  experiment :  he  saw  what  he  called 
the  misery  of  peace,  unless  the  utmost  vigilance 
and  prudence  were  exerted ;  and  he  expressed  in 
bitter  terms,  his  proper  indignation  at  the  manner 
in  which  the  mob  of  London  welcomed  the  French 
general  who  brought  the  ratification  :  saying,  "  that 
they  made  him  ashamed  of  his  country."  ^ 

He  had  purchased  a  house  and  estate  at  Merton, 
in  Surrey,  meaning  to  pass  his  days  there,  in  the 
society  of  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton.  This 
place  he  had  never  seen,  till  he  was  now  welcomed 
there  hy  the  friends  to  whom  he  had  so  passionately 
devoted  himself,  and  who  were  not  less  sincerely 
attached  to  him.  The  place,  and  everything  which 
Lady  Hamilton  had  done  to  it,  delighted  him ;  and 
he  declared  that  the  longest  liver  shoulri  nossess  it 


m 


1  iii-i 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


259 


that  his 
)e  buried 
•n  has  he 
ould  Vie ; 
fortitude 
d  in  my 

3  service, 
adence  to 
therefore 
-but  this 
>f  a  great 
'  one,  and 
r   £»   vice- 
ore  lucra- 
Ls  he  was, 
ns,  he  did 
at,  that  he 
t  this  time 
jn  rejoiced 
well  aware 
t  he  called 
vigilance 
[pressed  in 
_^p  manner 
;he  French 


ingi 


u 


that 


it  Merton, 
jre,  in  the 
ton.    This 

welcomed 
issionately 

sincerely 
ling  which 

him;  and 

i^ossess  it 


all.  His  pensions  for  his  victories,  and  for  the  loss 
of  his  eye  and  arm,  amounted,  with  his  half-pay,  to 
about  £3,400  a-year.  Fro  n  ^his  he  gave  £1<8()0  to 
Lady  Nelson,  £200  to  a  brother's  widow,  and  £150 
for  the  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  paid  £500 
interest  for  borrowed  money :  so  that  Nelson  Was 
comparatively  a  poor  man  ;  and  though  much  of  the 
pecuniary  embarrassment  which  be  endured,  was 
occasioned  by  the  separation  from  his  wife — even  if 
that  cause  had  not  existed,  his  income  would  not 
have  been  sufficient  for  the  rank  which  he  held,  and 
the  claims  which  would  necessarily  be  made  upon 
his  bounty.  The  depression  of  spirits  under  which 
he  had  long  labored,  arose  partly  from  this  state  of 
his  circumstances,  and  partly  from  the  other  dis- 
quietudes in  which  his  connection  with  Lady  Ham- 
ilton had  involved  him :  a  connection  which  it  was 
not  possible  his  father  could  behold  without  sorrow 
and  displeasure.  Mr.  Nelson,  however,  was  soon 
persuaded  that  the  attachment,  which  Lady  Nelson 
regarded  with  natural  jealousy  and  resentment,  did 
not  in  reality  pass  the  bounds  of  ardent  and  roman- 
tic admiration :  a  passion  which  the  manners  and 
accomplishments  of  Lady  Hamilton,  fascinating  as 
they  were,  would  not  have  been  able  to  excite,  if 
they  had  not  been  accompanied  by  more  uncommon 
intellectual  endowments,  and  by  a  character  which, 
both  in  its  strength  and  in  its  weakness,  resembled 
his  own.  It  dir?  not,  therefore,  require  much  ex- 
planation to  rec'?iicile  him  to  his  son ; — an  event  the 
more  essential  to  Nelson's  happiness,  because,  a 
few  months  afterwards,  the  good  old  man  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Soon  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  tidings  arriveck 
of  our  fin  ■  and  decisive  ;ecesses  in  Egypt;  in 
consequence  of  which,  the  ommon  council  voted 
their  thanks  to  the  army  and  navy  for  bringinjr  tha 


,J':H 


':•    \ 


260 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


campaign  to  so  glorious  a  conclusion.  When  Nel- 
son, after  the  action  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  had  been 
entertained  at  a  eitv  feast,  he  had  observed  to  the 
lord  mayor,  "T^at,  if  tht  city  continued  its  gen- 
erosity, the  navy  Wi^uld  rain  ti^em  in  gifts."  To 
which  the  lord  niayoi  cepMed,  pi  tting  his  hand  upon 
the  adminii's  sh(  i  ider)  *'  L-.)  ycu  xind  victories,  and 
we  will  find  ^'ewaids."  Nelson,  as  he  said,  had  kept 
his  Twrd — had  doubly  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  con- 
tract,-—but  no  thanks  had  bee«  voted  for  the  battle 
of  Copenh;  gen  •  and,  feslinr;  th;,t  he  and  his  com- 
panioned in  tbiit  day's  glory,  had  a  fair  and  honor- 
able claim  to  this  rew;.K  1,  he  took  the  present  op- 
portunity of  addresL*ing  a  letter  to  the  lord  mayor, 
complaining  of  the  omission  and  the  injustice. 
"The  smallest  services,"  said  he,  "rendered  by 
the  army  or  navy  to  the  country,  have  always  been 
noticed  by  the  great  city  of  London  with  one  ex- 
ception— the  glorious  2d  of  April : — a  day,  when 
the  greatest  dajigers  of  navigation  were  overcome ; 
and  the  Danish  force,  which  they  thought  impreg- 
nable, totally  taken  or  destroyed,  by  the  consum- 
mate skill  of  our  commanders,  and  by  the  undaunted 
bravery  of  as  gallant  a  band  as  ever  defended  the 
rights  of  this  country.  For  myself,  if  I  were  only 
personally  concerned,  I  should  bear  the  stig  m.  at- 
tempted to  be  now  first  placed  upon  my  brow,  with 
humility.  But,  my  lord,  I  am  the  natural  guardian 
of  the  fame  of  all  the  oflScers  of  the  navy,  army, 
and  marines,  who  fought,  and  so  profusely  bled, 
under  my  command  on  that  day.  Again,  I  dis- 
claim for  myself  more  merit  than  naturally  falls 
to  a  successful  commander ;  but  when  I  am  called 
upon  to  speak  of  the  merits  of  the  captains  of  his 
majesty's  ships  and  of  the  oflScers  and  men,  \  I  either 
seamen,  marir  —^  or  soldiers,  whom  I  thnt  Jay  had 
the  happinesr        command,  I  then  say,  that  never 


^m^-^'^ 


\- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


261 


len  Nel- 
bad  been 
ed  to  the 
its  gen- 
ts."   To 
and  upon 
)rie8,  and 
had  kept 
the  con- 
the  battle 
his  com- 
Qd  honor- 
resent  op- 
rd  mayor, 
injustice, 
idered  by 
ways  been 
bh  one  ex- 
day,  when 
overcome ; 
ht  impreg- 
e  consum- 
undaunted 
if  ended  the 
;  were  only 
Sti^  la-i  fl-t" 
brow,  with 
il  guardian 
avy,  army, 
usely  bled, 
ain,  I  dis- 
arally  falls 
I  am  called 
ains  of  his 
en,  xvhotlier 
r,i  .Uy  had 
that  never 


was  the  glory  of  this  country  upheld  with  more  de- 
termiued  bravery  than  on  that  occasion : — and  if  I 
may  be  allowed  to  give  an  opinion  as  a  Briton ;  then 
I  s.iv  that  more  important  service  was  never  ren- 
dered to  our  king  and  country.  It  is  my  duty,  my 
lord,  to  prove  to  the  brave  fellows,  my  companions 
in  danger,  that  I  have  not  failed,  at  every  proper 
place  to  represent,  as  well  as  I  am  able,  their 
bravery  and  meritorious  conduct. 

Another  honor  of  greater  import,  was  withheld 
from  the  conquerors.  The  king  had  given  medals 
to  those  captains  who  were  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
the  1st  of  June,  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  of  Camper- 
down,  and  of  the  Nile.  Then  came  the  victory  at 
Copenhagen ;  which  Nelson  truly  called  the  most 
difficult  achievement,  the  hardest-fought  battle,  the 
most  glorious  result,  that  ever  graced  the  annals  of 
our  country.  He,  of  course,  expected  the  medal ; 
and,  in  writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  said — "He 
longed  to  have  it,  and  would  not  give  it  up  to  be 
made  an  English  Duke."  The  medal,  however,  was 
not  given:  —  "For  what  reason,"  said  Nelson, 
"Lord  St.  Vincent  best  knows."  "Words  plainly 
implying  a  suspicion  that  it  was  withheld  by  some 
feeling  of  jealousy ;  and  that  suspicion  estranged 
him,  during  the  remaining  part  of  his  life,  from  one 
who  had  been  at  one  time  essentially,  as  well  as 
sincerely,  his  friend;  and  of  whose  professional 
abilities  he  ever  entertained  the  highest  opinion. 

The  happiness  which  Nelson  enjoyed  in  the  so- 
ciety of  his  chosen  friends,  was  of  no  long  con- 
tinuance. Sir  William  Hamilton,  who  was  far 
advanced  in  years,  died  early  in  1808.  He  expired 
in  his  wife's  arms,  holding  Nelson  by  the  hand ;  and 
almost  in  his  last  words  left  her  to  his  protection  ; 
requesting  him  that  he  would  see  justice  done  her 
by  the  government,  as  he  knew  what  she  had  done 


a^: 


I  ►. 


262 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


for  her  country.  He  left  him  her  portrait  in  enamel, 
calling  him  his  dearest  friend ;  the  most  virtuous, 
loyal,  and  truly  brave  character  he  had  ever  known. 
The  codicil  containing  this  bequest  concluding  with 
these  words :  "  God  bless  him,  and  shame  fall  on 
those  who  do  not  say  amen."  Sir  William's  pension, 
of  £1,200  a  year,  ceased  with  his  death.  Nelson 
applied  to  Mr.  Addington  in  Lady  Hamilton's  behalf, 
stating  the  important  service  which  she  had  ren- 
dered to  the  fleet  at  Syracuse  ;  and  Mr.  Addington, 
it  is  said,  acknowledged  that  she  had  a  just  claim 
upon  the  gratitude  of  the  country.  This  barren  ac- 
knowledgment was  all  that  was  obtained  ;  but  a  sum 
equal  to  the  pension  which  her  husband  had  enjoyed 
was  settled  on  her  by  Nelson,  and  paid  in  monthly 
payments  during  his  life.  A  few  weeks  after  this 
event,  the  war  was  renewed  ;  and  the  day  after  his 
majesty's  message  to  parliament.  Nelson  departed  to 
take  the  command  of  the  Mediterranean  fleet. 

He  took  his  station  immediately  off  Toulon ;  and 
there,  with  incessant  vigilance,  waited  for  the  com- 
ing out  of  the  enemy.  Wh^n  he  had  been  fourteen 
months  thus  employed,  he  received  a  vote  of  thanks 
from  the  city  of  London,  for  his  skill  and  persever- 
ance in  blcikading  that  port,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
French  from  putting  to  sea.  Nelson  had  not  for- 
gotten the  wrong  which  the  city  had  done  to  the 
Baltic  fleet  by  their  omission,  and  did  not  lose  the 
opportunity  which  this  vote  afforded,  of  recurring  to 
that  point.  ''I  do  assure  your  lordship,"  said  he, 
in  his  answfr  to  the  lord  mavor,  "  that  there  is  not 
that  man  braathing  who  sets  a  higher  value  upon  the 
thanks  of  his  fellow-citizens  of  London  than  myself  ; 
but  I  should  feel  as  much  ashamed  to  receive  them 
for  a  particular  service,  marked  in  the  resolution,  if 
I  felt  that  I  did  not  come  within  that  line  of  service, 
as  I  should  feel  hurt  at  having  a  great  victory  passed 


U 


"x. 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


263 


enanielf 
irtuous, 
known, 
ing  with 
!  fall  on 
pension, 
Nelson 
s  behalf, 
lad  ren- 
dington, 
ist  claim 
irren  ac- 
ut  a  sum 
L  enjoyed 
monthly 
after  this 
after  his 
sparted  to 
jet. 

lion;  and 
the  com- 
lourteen 
of  thanks 
Dersever- 
event  the 
d  not  f or- 
jne  to  the 
;  lose  the 
curring  to 
said  he, 
lere  is  not 
upon  the 
m  myself ; 
leive  them 
olution,  if 
3f  service, 
ory  passed 


over  without  notice.  I  beg  to  inform  your  lordship, 
that  the  port  of  Toulon  had  never  been  blockaded  by 
me  :  quite  the  reverse.  Every  opportunity  has  been 
offered  the  enemy  to  put  to  sea ;  for  it  is  there  we 
hope  to  realise  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  our 
country."  Nelson  then  remarked,  that  the  junior 
flag  officers  of  the  fleet  had  1  sen  omitted  in  this  vote 
of  thanks  ;  and  his  surprise  at  the  omission  was  ex- 
pressed with  more  asperity,  perhaps,  than  an  offence 
so  entirely  and  manifestly  unintentional,  deserved ; 
but  it  arose  from  the  generous  regard  for  the  feel- 
ings as  well  as  interests  of  all  who  were  under  his 
command,  which  made  him  as  much  beloved  in  the 
fleets  of  Britain,  as  he  was  dreaded  in  those  of  the 
enemy. 

Never  was  any  commander  more  beloved.  He 
governed  men  by  their  reason  and  their  affections : 
they  knew  that  he  was  incapable  of  caprice  or 
tyranny,  and  they  obeyed  him  with  alacrity  and  joy, 
because  he  possessed  their  confidence  as  well  as  their 
love.  "  Our  Nel,"  th(  v  used  to  say,  ''  is  as  brave 
as  a  lion,  and  as  gentle  as  a  lamb."  Severe  disci- 
pline he  detested,  though  h  '  1  been  bred  in  a  severe 
school ;  he  never  inflicted  tuij[^oral  punishment,  if  it 
were  possible  to  avoid  it ;  and  when  compelled  to 
enforce  it,  he,  who  was  familiar  with  wounds  and 
death,  suffered  like  a  woman.  In  his  whole  life 
Nelson  was  never  known  to  act  unkindly  towards  an 
officer.  If  he  was  asked  to  prosecute  one  for  ill  be- 
havior, he  used  to  answer — "  That  there  was  no  oc- 
casion for  him  to  ruin  a  poor  devil,  who  was  suflSci- 
ently  his  own  enemy  t  J  a  himself."  But  in  Nel- 
son there  was  more  than  the  easiness  and  humanity 
of  a  happy  nature :  he  did  not  merely  abstain  from 
injury  ;  his  was  an  active  and  watchful  benevolence, 
ever  desirous  not  only  to  render  justice,  but  to  do 
good.     During  the  peace,  he  had  spoken  in  parlia- 


264 


THE  Life  of  nelson. 


K-'A' 


iWi 


^:U    B'! 


!S 


mi-:  i 


i.l  ,1' 


ment  upon  the  abuses  respecting  prize-money  ;  and 
had  submitted  plans  to  government  for  more  easi!  / 
manning  the  navy,  and  preventing  desertion  from  it, 
by  bettering  the  condition  of  the  seamen.  He  pro- 
posed that  their  certificates  should  be  registered,  and 
that  every  man  who  had  served,  with  a  good  charac- 
ter, five  years  in  war,  should  receive  a  bounty  of 
two  guineas  annually  after  that  time,  and  of  four 
guineas  after  eight  years.  "  This,"  he  said,  "  might 
a^  Hi  I  .j^iit,  appear  an  enormous  sum  for  the  state 
to  pay ;  but  the  average  life  of  a  seaman  is,  from 
hard  service,  finished  at  forty-five :  he  cannot,  there- 
fore, enjoy  the  annuity  many  years ;  and  the  inter- 
est of  the  money  saved  by  their  not  deserting,  would 
go  far  to  pay  the  whole  expense." 

To  his  midshipmen  he  ever  showed  the  most  win- 
ning kindness,  encouraging  the  diffidei  t,  tempering 
the  hasty,  counselling  and  befriending  both.  '•'  Re- 
collect," he  used  to  say,  "  that  you  must  be  a  sea- 
m?.n  to  be  an  oflScer ;  and  also,  thnt  you  cannot  be  a 
good  officer  without  uving  a  gentiei  an."  A  lieu- 
tenant wrote  to  him  to  say,  that  he  a.  =»  dissa*  .fled 
with  his  captain.  Nelson's  answer  was  in  that  spirit 
of  perfect  wisdom  and  perfect  goodnc  rhich  reg- 
ulated his  whole  conduct  toward  those  who  were 
under  his  command.  *'  I  have  just  receive^^  vour 
letter ;  and  I  am  truly  sorry  that  any  difft  ence 
should  arise  between  your  captain,  who  has  the  rep- 
utation of  being  one  of  the  bright  oflScers  of  the 
service,  and  yourself,  a  very  young  man  and  a  very 
young  oflflce',  who  must  naturally  have  much  to 
learn  :  therefore,  the  chance  is  that  you  are  perfectly 
wro"e  in  the  disagreement.  However,  as  your 
iresent  situation  must  be  very  disagreeable,  I  will 
Tt'  inly  take  an  early  opportunity  of  removing  you, 
prov  ded  your  conduct  to  your  present  captain  be 
such,  that  another  may  not  refuse  to  receive  you." 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


20B 


By ;  and 
re  easi!  / 
from  it, 
He  pro- 
red,  and 
[  charac- 
ounty  of 
of  four 
"  might 
the  state 
is,  from 
)t,  there- 
he  inter- 
ig,  would 

nost  win- 
empeving 


I. 


ii. 


Re- 
be  a  sea- 
nnot  be  a 

A  lif^u- 
sso '  .tied 
hat  spirit 
lich  reg- 
vho  were 
i\o'  '^our 
ilifft   ence 

the  rep- 
rs  of  the 
id  a  very 
much  to 
perfectly 
as  your 
)le,  I  will 
ving  you, 
aptain  be 
ve  you." 


The  gentleness  and  benignity  of  his  disposition  never 
made  him  forget  what  was  due  to  discipline.  Being 
on  one  occasion  applied  to,  to  save  a  young  officer 
from  a  court-martial,  which  he  had  provoked  by  his 
misconduct,  his  reply  was,  ''  That  he  would  do  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  oblige  so  gallant  and  good  an 
officer  as  Sir  John  Warren"  in  whose  name  the'  in- 
tercession had  been  made  ;  '*  but  what,"  he  added, 
"would  he  do  if  he  were  here?  Exactly  what  I 
have  done,  and  am  still  willing  to  do.  The  young 
man  must  write  such  a  letter  of  contrition  as  would 
be  an  acknowledgment  of  his  great  fault ;  and  with 
a  sincere  promise,  if  his  captain  will  intercede  to 
prevent  the  impending  court-martial,  never  to  so 
misbehave  again.  On  his  captain  enclosing  me  such 
a  letter,  with  a  request  to  cancel  the  order  for  the 
trial,  I  might  be  induced  to  do  it :  but  the  letters 
and  reprimand  will  be  given  in  the  public  order-book 
of  the  fleet,  and  read  to  all  theoflScers.  The  young 
man  has  pushed  himself  forward  to  notice,  and  he 
must  take  the  consequence.  It  was  upon  the  quarter 
deck,  in  the  face  of  the  ship's  company,  that  he 
treated  his  captain  with  contempt ;  and  I  am  in  duty 
bound  to  support  the  authority  and  consequence  6t 
every  oflScer  under  my  command.  A  poor  ignorant 
seaman  is  for  ever  punished  for  contempt  to  his 
superiors." 

A  dispute  occurred  in  the  fleet,  while  it  was  oflE 
Toulon,  which  called  forth  Nelson's  zeal  for  the 
rights  and  interests  of  the  navy.  Some  young  ar- 
tillery officers^  serving  on  board  the  bomb- vessels, 
refused  to  let  their  men  perform  any  other  duty  but 
what  related  to  the  mortars.  They  wished  to  have 
it  established,  that  their  corps  was  not  subject  to 
the  captain's  authority.  The  same  pretensions  were 
made  in  the  channel  fleet  about  the  same  time ;  and 
the  artillery  rested  their  claims  to  separate  and  in- 


fi^ 


I h;   I 


^1 


THE  LIFl^  OF  NELSON. 


A 


dependent  authority  on  board,  upon  a  clause  in  the 
act,  which  they  interpreted  in  their  favor.  Nelson 
took  up  the  subject  with  all  the  earnestness  which 
its  importance  deserved.  "  There  is  no  real  happi- 
ness in  this  world,"  said  he,  writing  to  Earl  St.  Vin- 
cent, as  first  lord.  "  With  all  content  and  smiles 
around  me,  up  start  these  artillery  boys  (I  under- 
stand they  are  not  beyond  that  age) ,  and  set  us  at 
defiance ;  speaking  in  the  most  disrespectful  man- 
ner of  the  navy  and  its  commanders.  I  know  you, 
my  dear  lord,  so  well,  that,  with  your  quickness, 
the  matter  would  have  been  settled,  and  perhaps 
some  of  them  been  broke.  I  am,  perhaps,  more 
patient ;  but,  I  do  assure  you,  not  less  resolved,  if 
my  plan  of  conciliation  is  not  attended  to.  You 
and  I  are  on  the  eve  of  quitting  the  theatre  of  our 
exploits  ;  but  we  hold  it  due  to  our  successors  never, 
whilst  we  have  a  tongue  to  speak,  or  a  hand  to  write, 
to  allow  the  navy  to  be,  in  the  smallest  degree,  in- 
jured in  its  discipline  by  our  conduct."  To  Trow- 
bridge he  wrote  in  the  same  spirit : — "  It  is  the  old 
history,  trying  to  do  away  the  act  of  parliament : 
but  I  trust  they  will  never  succeed ;  for,  when 
tBey  do,  farewell  to  our  naval  superiority.  We 
should  be  prettily  commanded !  Let  them  once 
gain  the  step  of  being  independent  of  the  navy  on 
board  a  ship,  and  they  will  soon  have  the  other,  and 
command  us. — But,  thank  God !  my  dear  Trow- 
bridge, the  king  himself  cannot  do  away  the  act  of 
parliament.  Although  my  career  is  nearly  run,  yet 
it  would  embitter  my  future  days  and  expiring  mo- 
ments to  hear  of  our  navy  being  sacrificed  to  the 
army."  As  the  surest  way  of  preventing  such  dis- 
putes, he  suggested  that  the  navy  should  have  its 
own  corps  of  artillery ;  and  a  corps  of  marine  ar- 
tillery was  accordingly  established.  ~\ 

Instead  of  lessening  the  power  of  the  commander, 


■#! 


) 


THE  UFE  OF   NELSON. 


26T 


in  the 
kelson 
which 
happi- 
t.  Vin- 
emiles 
under- 
it  us  at 
1  man- 
iw  you, 
ckness, 
jerhaps 
,,  more 
Ived,  if 
1.     You 
of  our 
s  never, 
lO  write, 
jree,  in- 
0  Trow- 
the  old 
iament : 
r,  when 
;y.    We 
m  once 
navy  on 
ler,  and 

Trow- 
le  act  of 
run,  yet 
ing  mo- 

to  the 
uch  dis- 
have  its 
irine  ar- 

mander, 


Nelson  would  have  wished  to  see  it  Incitiased :  it 
was  absolutely  necessary,  he  thought,  that  merit 
should  be  rewarded  at  the  moment,  and  that  the 
officers  of  the  fleet  should  look  up  to  the  command- 
er-in-chief for  their  reward.  He  himself  was  never 
more  happy  than  when  he  could  promote  those  who 
were  deserving  of  promotion.  Many  were  the  ser- 
vices which  he  thus  rendered  unsolicited ;  and  fre- 
quently the  officer,  in  whose  behalf  he  had  inter- 
ested himself  with  the  admiralty,  did  not  know  to 
whose  friendly  interference  he  was  indebted  to  his 
good  fortune. — He  used  to  say,  "  I  wish  it  to  appear 
as  a  God-send."  The  love  which  he  bore  the  navy 
made  him  promote  the  interests  and  honor  the  mem- 
ory of  all  who  had  added  to  its  glories.  "The 
near  relations  of  brother  officers,"  he  said,  "  he 
considered  as  legacies  to  the  service."  Upon  men- 
tion being  made  to  him  of  a  son  of  Rodney,  by  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  his  reply  was :  "■  I  agree  with 
your  royal  highness,  most  entirely,  that  the  son  of 
a  Rodney  ought  to  be  the  protege  of  every  person 
in  the  kingdom,  and  particularly  of  the  sea  officers. 
Had  I  known  that  there  had  been  this  claimant, 
some  of  my  own  lieutenants  must  have  given  way 
to  such  a  name,  and  he  should  have  been  placed  in 
the  Victory — she  is  full,  and  I  have  twenty  on  my 
list ;  but,  whatever  numbers  I  have,  the  name  of 
Rodney  must  cut  many  of  them  out."  Such  was 
the  proper  sense  which  Nelson  felt  of  what  was  due 
to  splendid  services  and  illustrious  names.  His 
feelings  toward  the  brave  men  who  had  served  with 
him,  are  shown  by  a  note  in  his  diary,  which  was 
probably  not  intended  for  any  other  eye  than  his 
own : — "  Nov.  7.  I  had  the  comfort  of  making  an 
old  '  Agamemnon,'  George  Jones,  a  gunner  into  the 
Chameleon  brig." 
When  Nelson  took  the  command,  it  was  expected 


268 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


I'    'l\ 


r  !• 


«ii 


h  1 1 


that  the  Mediterranean  would  be  an  active  scene. 
Nelson  well  understood  the  character  of  the  perfidi- 
ous Corsican,  who  was  now  sole  tyrant  of  France ; 
and  knowing  that  he  was  as  ready  to  attack  his 
friends  as  his  enemies,  knew,  therefore,  that  noth- 
ing could  be  more  uncertain  than  the  direction  of 
the  fleet  from  Toulon,  whenever  it  should  put  to  sea : 
— "  It  had  as  many  destinations,"  he  said,  '*  as 
there  were  countries."  The  momentous  revolutions 
of  the  last  ten  years  had  given  him  ample  matter 
for  reflection,  as  well  as  opportunities  for  observa- 
tTon :  the  film  was  cleared  from  his  eyes ;  and  now, 
when  the  French  no  longer  went  abroad  with  the 
cry  of  liberty  and  equality,  he  saw  that  the  oppres- 
sion and  misrule  of  the  powers  which  had  been  op- 
posed to  them,  had  been  the  main  causes  of  their 
success,  and  that  those  causes  would  still  prepare 
the  way  before  them.  Even  in  Sicily,  where,  if  it 
had  been  possible  longer  to  blind  himself,  Nelson 
would  willingly  have  seen  no  evil,  he  perceived  that 
the  people  wished  for  a  change,  and  acknowledged 
that  they  had  reason  to  wish  for  it.  In  Sardinia 
the  same  burden  of  mis-government  was  felt ;  and 
the  people,  like  the  Sicilians,  were  impoverished  by 
a  government  so  utterly  incompetent  to  perform  its 
first  and  most  essential  duties,  that  it  did  not  pro- 
tect its  own  coasts  from  the  Barbary  pirates.  He 
would  fain  have  had  us  purchase  this  island  (the 
finest  in  the  Mediterranean)  from  its  sovereign,  who 
did  not  receive  £5,000  a-year  from  it,  after  its 
wretched  establishment  was  paid.  There  was  reason 
to  think  that  France  was  preparing  to  possess  herself 
of  this  important  point,  which  afforded  our  fleet  facil- 
ities for  watching  Toulon,  not  to  be  obtained  else- 
where. An  expedition  was  prepai'ing  at  Corsica  for 
the  purpose ;  and  all  the  Saides,  who  had  taPeu 
part  with  revolutionary  France,   were  ordered  to 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


269 


B  scene, 
perfidi- 
France ; 
jack  bis 
it  noth- 
ction  of 
;  to  sea : 
id,   "as 
olutions 
3  matter 
jbserva- 
nd  now, 
with  the 
oppres- 
t)een  op- 
of  their 
prepare 
ire,  if  it 
,  Nelson 
ved  that 
wledged 
Sardinia 
elt ;  and 
ished  by 
•form  its 
not  pro- 
es.     He 
md  (the 
ign,  who 
sifter  its 
IS  reason 
(S  herself 
eet  f  acil- 
led  else- 
rsica  for 
,d  taPeu 
3ered  to 


assemble  there.  It  was  certain  that  if  the  attack 
were  made,  it  would  succeed.  Nelson  thought  that 
the  only  means  to  prevent  Sardinia  from  becoming 
French,  was  to  make  it  English,  and  that  half  a 
million  would  give  the  king  a  rich  price,  and  England 
a  cheap  purchase.  A  better,  and  therefore  a  wiser 
policy,  would  have  been  to  exert  our  influence  in 
removing  the  abuses  of  the  government :  for  foreign 
dominion  is  always,  in  some  degi'ee,  an  evil ;  and 
allegiance  neither  can  nor  ought  to  be  made  a  thing 
of  bargain  and  sale.  Sardinia,  like  Sicily  and  Cor- 
sica, is  large  enough  to  form  a  separate  state.  Let 
us  hope  that  these  islands  may,  ere  long,  be  made 
free  and  independent.  Freedom  and  independence 
will  bring  with  them  industry  and  prosperity ;  and 
wherever  these  are  found,  arts  and  letters  will 
flourish,  and  the  improvement  of  the  human  race 
proceed. 

The  proposed  attack  was  postponed.  Views  of 
wider  ambition  were  opening  upon  Bonaparte,  who 
now  almost  undisguisedly  aspired  to  make  himself 
master  of  the  continent  of  Europe ;  and  Austria 
was  preparing  for  another  struggle,  to  be  conducted 
as  weakly,  and  terminated  as  miserably,  as  the  for- 
mer. Spain,  too,  was  once  more  to  be  involved  in 
war  by  the  policy  of  France :  that  perfidious  gov- 
ernment having  in  view  the  double  object  of  employ- 
ing the  Spanish  resources  against  England,  and  ex- 
hausting them,  in  order  to.  render  Spain  herself 
finally  its  prey.  Nelson,  who  knew  that  England 
and  the  Peninsula  ought  to  be  in  alliance,  for  the 
common  interest  of  both,  frequently  expressed  his 
hopes  that  Spain  might  resume  her  natural  rank 
among  the  nations.  "  We  ought,"  he  said,  *'  by 
mutual  consent,  to  be  the  very  best  friends,  and 
both  to  be  ever  hostile  to  France."  But  he  saw 
that  Bonaparte  was  meditating  the  destruction  of 


N 


llilli 


i 


270 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


Spain  ;  and  that,  while  tho  wretched  conrt  of  Mad- 
rid professed  to  remain  neutral,  the  appearances  of 
neutrality  were  scarcely  preserved.     An  order  of 
;he  J  ear  1771,  excluding  British  ships  of  war  from 
the  Spanish   ports,  was  revived  and  put  in  force ; 
while  French  privateers,  from  theSe  very  ports,  an- 
noyed the  British  trade,  carried  their  prizes  in,  and 
sold  them  even  at  Barcelona.     Nelson  complained 
of  this  to  the  captain-general  of  Ci-talonia,  inform- 
ing him  that  he  claimed,  for  every  British  ship  or 
squadron,  the  right  of  lying,  as  long  as  it  pleased, 
in  the  ports  of  Spain,  while  that  right  was  allowed 
to  other  powers.     To  the  Britiah  ambassador,  he 
said:  "I  am  ready  to  make  lar^e  allowances  for 
the  miserable  situation  Spain  has  placed  herself  in ; 
but  there  is  a  certain  line  beyond  which  I  cannot 
submit  to  be  treated  with  disrespect.      We   have 
given  up  French  vessels  taken  within  gun-shot  of 
the  Spanish  shore,  and  yet  French  vessels  are  per- 
mitted to  attack  our  ships  from  the  Spanish  shore. 
Your  excellency   may  assure  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment, that  in  whatever  place  f  he  Spaniards  allow 
the  French  to  attack  us,  in  tht<t  place  I  shall  order 
the  French  to  be  attacked." 

During  this  state  of  things,  to  which  the  weak- 
ness of  Spain,  and  not  her  will,  consented,  the  ene- 
my's fleet  did  not  venture  to  put  to  sea.  Nelson 
watched  it  with  unremitting  and  almost  unexampled 
perseverance.  The  station  off  Toulon  he  called  his 
home.  *'We  are  in  the  right  fighting  trim,"  said 
he;  "let  them  come  as  soon  as  they  please.  I 
never  saw  a  fleet,  altogether,  so  well  oflficered  and 
manned :  would  to  God  the  ships  were  half  so  good  ! 
The  finest  ones  in  the  service  would  soon  be  de- 
stroyed by  such  terrible  weather.  I  know  well 
enough,  that  if  I  were  to  go  into  Malta  I  should 
save  the  ships  during  this  bad  season  ;  but,  if  I  am 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m 


to  watch  the  French,  I  must  be  at  sea ;  and  if  at 
sea  must  have  bad  weather :  and  if  the  ships  are 
not  fit  to  stand  bad  weather,  they  are  useless." 
Then  only  he  was  satisfied,  and  at  ease,  when  he 
had  the  enemy  in  view.  Mr.  Elliot,  our  minister  at 
Naples,  seems,  at  this  time,  to  have  proposed  to 
send  a  confidential  Frenchman  to  him  with  informa- 
tion. "  I  should  be  very  happy,"  he  replied,  *'  to 
receive  authentic  intelligence  of  the  destintition  of 
the  French  squadron,  their  route,  and  time  of  sail- 
ing. Anything  short  of  this  is  useless ;  and  I 
assure  your  excelleucy,  that  I  would  not,  upon  any 
consideration,  have  a  Frenchman  in  the  fleet,  except 
as  a  prisoner.  I  put  no  confidence  in  them.  You 
think  yours  good ;  the  queen  thinks  the  same  :  I  be- 
lieve they  are  all  alike.  Whatever  information  you 
can  get  me,  I  shall  be  very  thankful  for ;  but  not  a 
Frenchman  comes  here.  Forgive  me,  but  my 
mother  hated  the  French  !  " 

M.  Latouche  Treville,  who  had  commanded  at 
Boulogne,  commanded  now  at  Toulon.  *'  He  was 
sent  for  on  purpose,"  said  Nelson,  "  as  he  beat  me 
at  Boulogne,  to  beat  me  again ;  but  he  .seems  very 
loath  to  try."  One  day,  while  the  main  body  of  our 
fleet  was  out  of  sight  of  land.  Rear- Admiral  Camp- 
bell, reconnoitring  with  the  Canopus,  Donegal,  and 
Amazon,  stood  in  close  to  the  port,  and  M.  La- 
touche, taking  advantage  of  a  breeze  which  sprung 
up,  pushed  out,  with  four  ships  of  the  line,  and 
thiee  heavy  frigates,  and  chased  him  about  four 
leagues.  The  Frenchman,  delighted  at  having 
found  himself  in  so  novel  a  situation,  published  a 
boastful  account ;  afl8rming  that  he  had  given  chase 
to  the  whole  British  fleet,  and  that  Nelson  had  fled 
before  him.  Nelson  thought  it  due  to  the  admiralty 
to  send  home  a  copy  of  the  Victory's  log  upon  this 
occasion.    "  As  for  himself,"  he  said,  "  if  his  char- 


fe!     I  1 


IP  : 


N  1 1 


^:l  I  iif 

irf,  ||  i 


51' 


,:^!'!lli!l  ' 


\. 


272 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


acter  was  not  established  by  that  time  for  not  being 
apt  to  run  away,  it  was  not  worth  his  whiJo  to  put 
the  world  right."  "  If  this  fleet  gets  fairly  up  with 
M.  Latouche,"  said  he,  to  one  of  his  con'espond- 
ents,  *'his  letter,  with  all  his  ingenuity,  must  be 
different  from  his  last.  We  had  fancied  that  we 
chased  him  into  Toulon ;  for,  blind  as  I  am,  I  could 
sec  his  water  line,  when  he  clued  his  topsails  up, 
shutting  in  Sepet.  But,  from  the  time  of  his  meet- 
ing CaptairA  Hawker  in  the  Isis,  I  never  heard  of 
his  acting  ot'ierwise  than  as  a  poltroon  and  a  liar. 
Contempt  is  trie  best  mode  of  treating  such  a  mis- 
creant." In  spite,  however,  of  contempt,  the  im- 
pudence of  tliis  Frenchman  half  angered  him.  He 
said  to  his  brother:  "Yea  will  have  seen  La- 
touche's  letter ;  how  he  chased  me,  and  how  I  ran. 
I  keep  it ;  and  if  I  take  him,  by  God  he  shall  eat 
it!" 

Nelson,  who  used  to  say,  that  in  sea  affairs  noth- 
ing is  impossible,  and  nothing  improbable,  feared 
the  more  that  this  Frenchman  might  get  out  and 
elude  his  vigilance ;  because  he  was  so  especially 
desirous  of  catching  him,  and  administering  to  him 
his  own  lying  letter  in  a  sandwich.  M.  Latouche, 
however,  escaped  him  in  another  way.  He  died, 
according  to  the  French  papers,  in  consequence  of 
walking  so  often  up  to  the  signal  post  upon  Sepet, 
to  watch  the  British  fleet.  "  I  always  pronounced 
that  would  be  his  deatli,"  said  Nelson.  *'  If  he  had 
come  out  and  fought  me,  it  would,  at  least,  have 
added  ten  years  to  my  life."  The  patience  with 
which  he  had  watched  Toulon,  he  spoke  of,  truly, 
as  a  perseverance  at  sea  which  had  never  been  sur- 
passed. From  May,  1803,  to  August,  1805,  he 
himself  went  out  of  his  ship  but  three  times ;  each 
of  those  times  was  upon  the  king's  service,  and 
neither  time  of  absence  exceeded  an  hour.     The 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


273 


t  being 
to  put 
ip  with 
jspond- 
mst  be 
;hat  we 
I  could 
ails  up, 
is  meet- 
leard  of 
a  a  liar. 
h  a  mia- 
the  im- 
iin.    He 
een  La- 
w  I  ran. 
jhall  eat 

irs  noth- 
!,  feared 
out  and 
specially 
^  to  him 
atouche, 
le  died, 
uence  of 
)n  Sepet, 
)nounced 
he  had 
ast,  have 
nee  with 
of,  truly, 
jeen  sur- 
1805,   he 
es ;  each 
;rice,  and 
m\    The 


weather  had  been  so  unusually  severe,  that,  he  said, 
the  Mediterranean  seemed  altered.  -It  was  his  rule 
never  to  contend  with  the  gales ;  but  either  run  to 
the  southward,  to  escape  their  violence,  or  furl  all 
the  sails,  and  make  the  ships  as  easy  as  possible. 
The  men,  though  he  said  flesh  and  blood  could 
hardly  stand  it,  continued  in  excellent  health,  which 
he  ascribed,  in  great  measure,  to  a  plentiful  supply 
of  lemons  and  onions.  For  hi^nself,  he  thought  he 
could  only  last  till  the  battle  was  over.  One  battle 
more  it  was  his  hope  that  he  might  fight.  "How- 
ever," said  he,  *'  whatever  happens  I  have  run  a 
glorious  race."  He  was  afraid  of  blindness :  and 
this  was  the  only  evil  which  he  could  not  contem- 
plate without  unhappiness.  More  alarming  symp- 
toms he  regarded  with  less  apprehension ;  describ- 
ing his  own  "shattered  carcass,"  as  in  the  worst 
plight  of  any  in  the  fleet ;  and  he  says  :  "I  have 
felt  the  blood  gushing  up  the  left  side  of  my  head : 
and,  the  moment  it  covers  the  brain,  T  am  fast 
asleep."  The  fleet  was  in  worse  trim  than  the  men : 
but  when  he  compared  it  with  the  enemy's,  it  was 
with  a  right  English  feeling.  "The  French  fleet, 
yesterday,"  said  he,  in  one  of  his  letters,  "  was  to 
appearance  in  high  feather,  and  as  fine  as  paint 
could  make  them ;  but  when  they  may  sail,  or  where 
they  may  go,  I  am  very  sorry  to  say  is  a  secret  I 
am  not  acquainted  with.  Our  weather-beaten  ships, 
I  have  no  fear,  will  make  their  sides  like  a  plum- 
pudding." 

Hostilities  at  length  commenced  between  Great 
Britain  and  Spain.  That  country,  whose  miserable 
government  made  her  subservient  to  France,  vas 
once  more  destined  to  lavish  hei  resources  and  her 
blood  in  furtherance  of  the  designs  of  a  perfidious 
ally.  The  immediate  occasion  of  the  war,  was  the 
seizure  of  four  treasure  ships  bv  the  English.  The 
18 


274 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


m  m 


1 


act  was  perfectly  justifiable ;  for  those  treasures 
were  intended  to  furnish  means  for  France  ;  but  the 
circumstances  which  attended  it,  were  as  unhappy 
as  they  were  unforseen.  Four  frigates  had  been 
despatched  to  intercept  them.  They  met  with  an 
equal  force.  Resistance,  therefore,  became  a  point 
of  honor  on  the  part  of  the  Spaniards,  and  one  of 
their  ships  soon  blew  up  with  all  on  board.  Had  a 
stronger  squadron  been  sent,  this  deplorable  catas- 
trophe might  have  been  spared — a  catastrophe  which 
excited  not  more  indignation  in  Spain,  than  it  did 
grief  in  those  who  were  its  unwilling  instruments, 
in  the  English  government,  and  in  the  English  peo- 
ple. On  the  5th  of  October  this  unhappy  affair 
occurred,  and  Nek  on  was  not  apprised  of  it  till  the 
12th  of  the  ensuing  month.  He  had,  indeed,  suffi- 
cient mortification  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Span- 
ish war ;  an  event  which,  it  might  reasonably  have 
been  supposed,  would  amply  enrich  the  officers  of 
the  Mediterranean  fleet,  and  repay  them  for  the 
severe  and  unremitting  duty  on  which  they  had 
been  so  long  employed.  But  of  this  harvest  they 
were  deprived ;  for  Sir  John  Orde  was  sent  with  a 
small  squadron,  and  a  separate  command,  to  Cadiz. 
Nelson's  feelings  were  never  wounded  so  deeply  as 
now.  "  I  had  thought,"  said  he,  writing  in  the  first 
flow  and  freshness  of  indignation:  "I  fancied — 
but,  nay ;  it  must  have  been  a  dream,  an  idle  dream 
— yet,  I  confess  it,  I  did  fancy  that  I  had  done  my 
country  service  ;  and  thus  they  use  me  !  And  under 
what  circumstances,  and  with  what  pointed  aggrava- 
tion !  Yet,  if  I  know  my  own  thoughts,  it  is  not 
for  myself,  or  on  my  own  account  chiefly,  that  I 
feel  the  sting  and  the  disappointment.  No !  it  is 
for  my  brave  officers  ;  for  my  noble-minded  friends 
and  comrades.  Such  a  gallant  set  of  fellows ! 
Such  a  band  of  brothers  !  My  heart  swells  at  the 
thought  of  them !  " 


i 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


276 


easures 
but  the 
inhappy 
ad  been 
with  an 
J  a  point 
1  one  of 
Had  a 
lie  cataS" 
he  which 
an  it  did 
ruments, 
rlish  peo- 
ipy  affair 
it  till  the 
eed,  suffl- 
the  Span- 
ably  have 
officers  of 
n  for  the 
they  had 
:ve8t  they 
ent  with  a 
to  Cadiz, 
deeply  as 
in  the  first 
fancied — ■ 
idle  dream 
.  done  my 
And  under 
d  aggrava- 
,  it  is  not 
ifly,  that  I 
No !  it  is 
,ed  friends 
If    fellows! 
ells  at  the 


War  between  Spain  and  England  was  now  de- 
clared ;  and,  on  the  18th  of  January,  the  Toulon 
fleet,  having  the  Spaniards  to  co-operate  with  them, 
put  to  sea.     Nelson  was  at  anchor  off  the  coast  of 
Sardinia,  where  the  Madelena  islands  form  one  of 
the  finest  harbors  in  the  world,  when,  at  three  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  the  Active  and  Seahorse 
frigates  brought  this  long-hoped    for  intelligence. 
They  had  been  close  to  the  enemy  at  ten  on  the  pre- 
ceding night,  but  lost  sight  of  them  in  about  four 
hours.      The     fleet     immediately    unmoored     and 
weighed,  and  at  six  in  the  evening  ran  through  the 
strait  between   Biche  and   Sardinia ;  a  passage  so 
nan'ow,  that  the  ships   could  only  pass  one  at  a 
time,  each  following  the  stern  lights  of  its  leader. 
From  the  position  of  the  enemy,  when  they  were 
last  seen,  it  was  inferred,  that  they  must  be  bound 
round  the  southern  end  of  Sardinia.     Signal  was 
made  the  next  morning  to  prepare  for  battle.     Bad 
weather  came  on,  baffling  the  one  fleet  in  its  object, 
and  the  other  in  its  pursuit.     Nelson  beat  about  the 
Sicilian   seas  for  ten  days,  without  obtaining  any 
Other  information  of  the  enemy,  than  that  one  of 
their   ships   had  put  into  Ajaccio  dismasted ;  and 
having  seen  that  Sardinia,  Naples,  and  Sicily,  were 
safe,  believing  Egypt  to  be  their  destination,  for 
Egypt   he  ran.     The   disappointment  f nd  distress 
which  he  had  experienced  in  his  former  pursuits  of 
the   French  through   the  same  seas  were   now  re- 
newed ;  but  Nelson,  while  he  endured  these  anxious 
and  unhappy   feelings,  was   stUl   consoled  by  the 
same  confidence  as  on  the  former  occasion — that, 
though  his  judgment  might  be  erroneous,  under  all 
circumstances,  he  was   right  in  having  formed  it. 
"I  have    consulted    no    man,"    said    he,    to    the 
admiralty;   "therefore,  the  whole  blame  of  igno- 
rance in  formiiig  my  judgment  must  rest  with  me. 


216 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


I™ '*p 


I  would  allow  no  man  to  take  from  me  an  atom  of 
my  glory  had  I  fallen  in  with  the  French  fleet ;  nor 
do  I  desire  any  man  to  partake  any  of  the  respon- 
sibility. All  is  mine,  right  or  wrong."  Then  stat- 
ing the  grounds  upon  which  he  had  proceeded,  he 
added:  "At  this  moment  of  soitow,  I  still  feel 
that  I  have  acted  right."  In  the  same  spirit  he  said 
to  Sir  Alexander  Ball:  *'  When  I  call  to  remem- 
brance all  the  circumstances,  I  approve,  if  nobody 
else  does,  of  my  own  conduct." 

Baffled  thus,  he  bore  up  for  Malta,  and  met  in- 
telligence from  Naples  that  the  French,  having  been 
dispersed  in  a  gale,  had  put  back  to  Toulon.  From 
the  same  quarter  he  learned,  that  a  great  number  of 
saddles  and  muskets  had  been  embarked ;  and  this 
confirmed  him  in  his  opinion  that  Egypt  was  their 
destination.  That  they  should  have  put  back  in 
consequence  of  storms  which  he  had  weathered, 
gave  him  a  consoling  sense  of  British  superiority. 
"  These  gentlemen,"  said  he,  '*  are  not  accustomed 
to  a  Gulf  of  Lyons  gale ;  we  have  buffeted  them  for 
one  and  twenty  months,  and  not  carried  away  a 
spar."  He,  however,  who  had  so  often  braved 
these  gales,  was  now,  though  not  mastered  by  them, 
vexatiously  thwarted  and  impeded ;  and,  on  Feb- 
ruary 27,  he  was  compelled  to  anchor  in  Pulla  Bay, 
in  the  Gulf  of  Cagliari.  From  the  21st  of  January, 
the  fleet  had  remained  ready  for  battle,  without  a 
bulkhead  up,  night  or  day.  He  anchored  here,  that 
he  might  not  be  driven  to  leeward.  As  soon  as  the 
weather  moderated  he  put  to  sea  again  ;  and,  after 
again  beating  about  against  contrary  winds,  another 
gale  drove  him  to  anchor  in  the  Gulf  of  Palma,  on 
the  8th  of  March.  This  he  made  his  rendezvous  ; 
he  knew  that  the  French  troops  still  remained  em- 
barked, and,  wishing  to  lead  them  into  a  belief  that 
ne  was  stationed  upon  the  Spanish  coast,  he  made 


j^j^..:-    'I 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


277 


torn  of 
5t;  nor 
respon- 
jn  Btat- 
ded,  be 
Dill  feel 
he  said 
remem- 
nobody 

met  in- 
ing  been 
I.    From 
imber  of 
and  this 
w&s  their 
back  in 
Bathered, 
periority. 
customed 
them  for 
i  away  a 
Q  braved 
by  them, 
on  Feb- 
ulla  Bay, 
January, 
without  a 
here,  that 
)on  as  the 
and,  after 
,  another 
alma,  on 
idezvous ; 
ained  em- 
3elief  that 
he  made 


his  appearance  off  Barcelona  with  that  intent.  About 
the  end  of  the  month,  he  began  to  fear  that  the  plan 
of  the  expedition  was  abandoned  ;  and,  sailing  once 
more  towards  his  old  station  off  Toulon,  on  the  4th 
of  April,  he  met  the  Phoebe,  with  news  that  Ville- 
neuve  had  put  to  sea  on  the  last  of  March  with 
eleven  ships  of  the  line,  seven  frigates,  and  two 
brigs.  When  last  seen,  they  were  steering  toward 
the  coast  of  Africa.  Nelson  first  covered  the  chan- 
nel between  Sardinia  and  Barbary,  so  as  to  satisfy 
himself  that  Villeneuve  was  not  taking  the  same 
route  for  Egypt  which  Gantheaume  had  taken  before 
him,  when  he  attempted  to  carry  reinforcements 
there.  Certain  of  this,  he  bore  up  on  the  7th  for 
Palmero,  lest  the  French  should  pass  to  the  north  of 
Corsica,  and  he  despatched  cruisers  in  all  directions. 
On  the  11th  he  felt  assured  that  they  were  not  gone 
down  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  sending  off  frigates  to 
Gibraltar,  to  Lisbon,  and  to  Admiral  Cornwallis, 
who  commanded  the  squad.or  off  Brest,  he  en- 
deavored to  get  to  the  westward,  beating  against 
westerly  winds.  After  five  days,  a  neutral  gave  in- 
telligence that  the  French  had  been  seen  off  Cape  de 
Gatte  on  the  7th.  It  wais  soon  after  ascertained 
that  they  had  passed  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  on  the 
day  ^'f  blowing ;  and  Nelson,  knowing  that  they  might 
already  be  half  way  to  Ireland,  or  to  Jamaica,  ex- 
claimed, that  he  was  miserable.  One  gleam  of^ com- 
fort only  came  across  him  in  the  reflection,  that  his 
vigilance  had  rendered  it  impossible  for  them  to 
undertake  any  expedition  in  the  Mediterranean. 

Eight  days  after  this  certain  intelligence  had  been 
obtaliied,  he  described  his  state  of  mind  chus  for- 
cibly, in  writing  to  the  governor  of  Malta :  "  My 
good  fortune,  my  dear  Ball,  seems  flown  away.  I 
cannc^.  get  a  fair  wind,  or  even  a  side  wind.  Dead 
foul  I    Dead  foul !     But  my  mind  is  fully  made  up 


278 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELP  )N. 


[-'i. 


H 


l«.t 


what  to  do  when  I  leave  the  Straits,  supposing  there 
is  no  certain  account  of  the  enemy's  destination.  I 
believe  this  ill  lu(  i  will  go  near  to  kill  me ;  but,  as 
these  are  times  of  exertion,  I  must  not  be  cast 
down,  whatever  I  may  feel."  In  spite  of  every  ex- 
ertion which  could  be  made  by  all  the  zeal  and  all 
the  skill  of  British  seamen,  he  did  not  get  in  sight 
of  Gibraltar  till  the  30th  April ;  and  the  wind  was 
then  so  adverse  that  it  was  impossible  to  pass  the 
Gut.  He  anchored  in  Mazari  Bay,  on  the  Barbary 
shore ;  obtained  supplies  from  Tetuan ;  and  when, 
on  the  5th  a  breeze  from  the  eastward  sprang  up  at 
last,  sailed  once  more,  hoping  to  hear  of  the  enemy 
from  Sir  John  Orde,  who  commanded  off  Cadiz,  or 
from  Lisbon.  *'  If  nothing  is  heard  of  them,"  said 
he,  to  the  admiralty,  *' I  shall  probably  think  the 
rumors  which  have  been  spread  are  true,  that  their 
object  is  the  West  Indies  ;  and,  in  that  case,  I  think 
it  my  duty  to  follow  them ;  or  to  the  Antipodes, 
should  I  believe  that  to  be  their  destination."  At 
the  time  when  this  resolution  was  taken,  the  physi- 
cian of  the  fleet  had  ordered  him  to  return  to  Eng- 
land before  the  hot  months. 

Nelson  had  formed  his  judgment  of  their  destina- 
tion, and  made  up  his  mind  accordingly ;  when 
Donald  Campbell,  at  that  time  an  admiral  in  the 
Portuguese  service,  the  same  person  who  had  given 
important  tidings  to  Enii  St.  Vincent  of  the  move- 
ments of  that  fleet  from  which  he  won  his  title,  a 
second  time  gave  timely  and  momentous  intelligence 
to  the  flag  of  his  country.  He  went  on  board  the 
Victory,  and  communicated  to  Nelson  his  certain 
knowledge  that  the  combined  Spanish  and  French 
fleets  were  bound  for  the  West  Indies.  Hitherto  all 
things;  had  favored  the  enemy.  While  the  British 
commander  was  beating  up  against  strong  southerly 
and  westerly  gales,  they  had  wind  to  their  wish  from 


:  Hr: '- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


279 


og  there 
tion.     I 
but,  as 
be  cast 
very  ex- 
1  and  all 
i  in  sight 
vind  was 
pass  the 
Barbary 
ad  when, 
tng  up  at 
18  enemy 
Cadiz,  or 
jm,"  said 
think  the 
that  their 
B,  I  think 
ntipodes, 
on."     At 
;he  physi- 
1  to  Eng- 

r  destina- 
y ;    when 
ral  in  the 
had  given 
the  move- 
lis  title,  a 
itelligence 
board  the 
lis  certain 
id  French 
itherto  all 
le  British 
southerly 
wish  from 


on 


CO 


the  N.  E.,  and  had  done  in  nine  days  what  he  was 
a  whole  month  in  accomplishing.  Villeneuve,  find- 
ing tl  Spaniards  at  Carthagena  were  not  in  a  state 
of  equipment  to  join  hiin,  dared  not  wait,  but  has- 
tened on  ♦^o  Cadiz.  Sir  John  Orde  necessarily  re- 
tired at  1.3  approach.  Admiral  Gravina,  with  six 
Spanish  ships  of  the  line,  and  two  French,  came  out 
to  him,  and  they  sailed  without  a  moment's  loss  of 
t  ^'    y  had  about  three  thousand  FruM^h  troops 

d,  and  fifteen  hundred  Spanish  .  <  a  hundred 
iii'^f  orders,  expecting  them  atiJ  *'t.nique, 
tliousand  at  Guadaloupe.  General  Lauriston 
ded  the  troops.  The  combined  fleet  now 
couG.oted  of  eighteen  sail  of  the  line,  six-forty-four 
gun  frigates,  one  of  twenty-six  guns,  three  corvettes, 
and  a  brig.  They  were  joined  afterwards  by  two  new 
French  line  of  battle  ships,  and  one  forty-four. 
Nelson  pursued  them  with  ten  sail  of  the  line  and 
three  frigates.  "  Take  you  a  Frenchman  a-piece," 
said  he  to  his  captains,  "  and  leave  me  the  Spaniards  : 
when  I  haul  down  my  colors,  I  expect  you  to  do  the 
same  ;  and  not  till  then." 

The  enemy  had  ve-and-thirty  days'  start;  but 
he  calculated  that  he  should  gain  eight  or  ten  days 
upon  them  by  his  exertions.  May  15th  he  made 
Madeira,  and  on  June  4th  reached  Barbadoes, 
whither  he  had  sent  despatches  before  him ;  and 
where  he  found  Admiral  Cochrane,  with  two  ships, 
part  of  our  squadron  in  those  seas  being  at  Jamaica. 
He  found  here  also  accounts  that  the  combined  fleets 
had  been  seen  from  St.  Lucia  on  the  28tl  standing 
to  the  southward,  and  that  Tobago  and  Trinidad 
were  their  objects.  This  Nelson  doubted ;  but  he 
was  alone  in  his  opinion,  and  yielded  it  with  these 
foreboding  words — "  If  your  intelligence  proves 
false,  you  lose  me  the  French  fleet."  Sir  William 
Myers  offered  to  embark  here  with  two  thousand 


^-> 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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280 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


troops: — they  were  taken  on  board,  and  the  next 
morning  he  sailed  for  Tobago.  Here  accident  con- 
firmed the  false  intelligence  which  had,  whether 
from  intention  or  error,  misled  him.  A  merchant  at 
Tobago,  in  the  general  alarm,  not  knowing  whether 
this  fleet  was  friend  or  foe,  sent  out  a  schooner  to 
reconnoitre,  and  acquaint  him  by  signal.  The  sig- 
nal which  he  has  chosen  happened  to  be  the  very 
one  which  had  been  appointed  by  Colonel  Shipley  of 
the  engineers,  to  signify  that  the  enemy  were  at 
Trinidad ;  and  as  this  was  at  the  close  of  the  day, 
there  was  no  opportunity  of  discovering  the  mistake. 
An  American  brig  was  met  with  about  the  same 
time ;  the  master  of  which,  with  that  propensity  to 
deceive  the  English  and  assist  the  French  in  any 
manner,  which  has  been  but  too  common  among  his 
countrymen,  affirmed,  that  he  had  been  boarded  off 
Granada  a  few  days  before  by  the  French,  who  were 
standing  towards  the  Bocas  of  Trinidad.  The  fresh 
intelligence  removed  all  doubts.  The  ships  were 
cleared  for  action  before  day-lighc,  and  Nelson 
entered  the  Bay  of  Paria  on  the  7th,  hoping  and 
expecting  to  make  the  mouths  of  the  Orinoco  as 
famous  in  the  annals  of  the  British  navy  as  those  of 
the  Nile.  Not  an  enemy  was  there ;  and  it  was  dis- 
covered that  accident  and  artifice  had  combined  to 
lead  him  so  far  to  leeward,  that  there  could  have 
been  little  hope  of  fetching  to  windward  of  Granada 
for  any  other  fleet.  Nelson,  however,  with  skill  and 
exertions  never  exceeded,  and  almost  unexampled, 
bore  for  that  island. 

Advices  met  him  on  the  way,  that  the  combined 
fleets,  having  captured  the  Diamond  Rock,  were 
then  at  Martinique,  on  the  4th,  and  were  expected 
to  sail  that  night  for  the  attack  of  Granada.  On 
the  9  th,  Nelson  arrived  off  that  island ;  and  there 
learned  that  they  had  passed  to  leeward  of  Antigua 

'-■'  t  ^'^'"'"-'■"■^'     ' :■■■•;-:,'■■■.  ■  ■■■■—        -■••  ■^■-■'■■■^r  -    ■ 


THE  LIPB  OP  NELSON. 


281 


i  next 
it  oon- 
hether 
lant  at 
hether 
)ner  to 
le  sig- 
e  very 
pley  of 
ere  at 
le  day, 
i«take. 
i  same 
isity  to 
in  any 
ong  his 
•ded  off 
ho  were 
le  fresh 
)s  were 
Nelson 
ng  and 
loco  as 
lose  of 
v&s  dis- 
med  to 
d  have 
ranada 
^ill  and 
impled, 

mbined 
,  were 
pected 
a.  On 
d  there 
iiitigna 


the  preceding  day,  and  taken  a  homeward  bound 
convoy.  Had  it  not  been  for  false  information, 
upon  which  Nelson  had  acted  reluctantly,  and  in 
opposition  to  his  own  judgment,  he  would  have  been 
off  Port  Royal  just  as  they  were  leaving  it,  and  the 
battle  would  have  been  fought  on  the  spot  where 
Rodnev  defeated  De  Grasse.  This  he  remembered 
in  his  vexation ;  but  he  had  saved  the  colonies,  and 
above  two  hundred  ships  laden  for  Europe,  which 
would  else  have  fallen  into  the  enemy's  hands ;  and 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  mere 
terror  of  his  name  had  effected  this,  and  had  4)ut  to 
flight  the  allied  enemies,  whose  force  nearly  doubled 
that  before  which  they  fled.  That  they  were  flying 
back  to  Europe  he  believed,  and  for  Europe  he 
steered  in  pursuit  on  the  13th,  having  disembarked 
the  troops  at  Antigua,  and  taking  with  him  the 
Spartiate,  74:  the  only  addition  to  the  squadron 
with  which  he  was  pursuing  so  superior  a  force. 
Five  days  afterwards,  the  Amazon  brought  intelli- 
gence, that  she  had  spoke  a  schooner  who  had  seen 
them,  on  the  evening  of  the  15th,  steering  to  the 
north ;  and,  by  computation,  eighty-seven  leagues 
off.  Nelson's  diary  at  this  time  denotes  his  great 
anxiety,  and  his  perpetual  and  all-observing  vigi- 
lance. "June  21,  Midnight. — Nearly  calm;  saw 
three  planks,  which  I  think  came  from  the  French 
fleet.  Very  miserable,  which  is  very  foolish."  On 
the  17th  of  July,  he  came  .in  sight  of  Cape  St.  Vin- 
cent, and  steered  for  Gibraltar.  "  June  18th,"  his 
diary  says,  >'  Cape  Spartel  in  sight,  but  no  French 
fleet,  nor  any  information  about  them.  How  sor- 
rowful this  makes  me !  but  I  cannot  help  myself." 
The  next  day  he  anchored  at  Gibraltar ;  and  on  the 
20th,  says  he,  "I  went  on  shore  for  the  first  time 
since  June  16th,  1803 ;  and  from  having  my  foot 
out  of  the  Victory,  two  years,  wanting  ten  days." 


282 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


\ 


./ 


Here  he  communicated  with  his  old  friend  Col- 
ling wood,  who,  haying  been  detached  with  a  squad- 
ron, when  the  disappearance  of  the  combined  fleets, 
and  of  Nelson  in  their  pursuit,  was  known  in  Eng- 
land, had  taken  his  station  off  Cadiz.  He  thought 
that  Ireland  was  the  enemy's  ultimate  object ;  that 
they  would  now  liberate  the  Ferrol  squadron,  which 
was  blocked  up  by  Sir  Robert  Calder,  call  for  the 
Rochefort  ships,  and  then  appear  off  Ushant  with 
three  or  four  and  thirty  sail ;  there  to  be  joined  by 
the  Brest  fleet.  With  this  great  force  he  supposed 
they  would  make  for  Ireland ;  the  real  mark  and 
bent  of  all  their  operations ;  and  their  flight  to  the 
West  Indies,  he  thought,  had  been  merely  under- 
taken to  take  off  Nelson's  force,  which  was  the 
great  impediment  to  their  undertaking.  \ 

Collingwood  was  gifted  with  great  political  pene- 
"tration.  As  yet,  however,  all  was  conjecture  con- 
cerning the  enemy ;  and  Nelson,  having  victualled 
and  watered  at  Tetuan,  stood  for  Ceuta  on  the  24th, 
still  without  information  of  their  course.  Next  day, 
intelligence  arrived  that  the  Curieux  brig  had  seen 
them  on  the  19th,  standing  to  the  northward.  He 
proceeded  off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  rather  cruising  for 
intelligence,  than  knowing  whither  '  -*  betake  him- 
self;  and  here  a  case  occurred,  ttr  iore  than  any 
other  event  in  real  history,  resembles  those  whimsi- 
cal proofs  of  sagacity,  which  Voltaire,  in  his  "  Za- 
dig,"  has  borrowed  from  the  Orientals.  One  of  our 
frigates  spoke  an  American,  who,  a  little  to  the 
westward  of  the  Azores,  had  fallen  in  with  an 
armed  vessel,  appearing  to  be  a  dismasted  priva- 
teer, deserted  by  her  crew,  which  had  been  run  on 
board  by  another  ship,  and  had  been  set  fire  to; 
but  the  fire  had  gone  out.  A  log-book,  and  a  few 
seamen's  jackets,  were  found  in  the  cabin ;  and 
these  were  brought  to  Nelson.    The  log-book  closed 


end  Col- 
a  squad- 
eel  fleets, 
1  in  Eng- 

I  thought 
ect ;  that 
>n,  which 

II  for  the 
hant  with 
joined  by 
supposed 
nark  and 
ght  to  the 
Jy  under-   , 

was  the 

bical  pene- 
cture  con- 
victualled 
1  the  24th, 
Next  day, 
y  had  seen 
w&rd.  He 
raising  for 
itake  him- 
e  than  any 
se  whimsi- 

his  ''Za- 
One  of  our 
itle  to  the 
with  an 
jted  priva- 
een  run  on 
jet  fire  to; 

and  a  few 
abin ;  and 
30ok  closed 


i 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


283 


/  ':' 


with  these  words :  "  Two  large  vessels  in  theW.  N. 
W. ; "  and  this  led  him  to  conclude  that  the  vessel 
had  been  an  English  privateer,  cruising  oflf  the 
Western  Islands.  But  there  was  in  this  book  a 
scap  of  dirty  paper,  filled  with  figures.  Nelson, 
immediately  upon  seeing  it,  observed  that  the  figures 
were  wiitten  by  a  Frenchman :  and,  after  studying 
this  for  a  while,  said:  ^^  I  can  explain  the  whole. 
The  jackets  are  of  French  manufacture,  and  proved 
that  the  privateer  was  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 
She  had  been  chased  and  taken  by  the  two  ships 
that  were  seen  in  the  W.  N.  W.  The  prize-master, 
going  on  board  in  a  huiTy,  forgot  to  take  with  him 
his  reckoning ;  there  is  none  in  the  log-book ;  and 
the  dirty  paper  contains  her  work  for  the  number  of 
days  since  the  privateer  last  left  Corvo :  with  an  un- 
accounted-for run,  which  I  take  to  have  been,  the 
chase,  in  his  endeavor  to  find  out  her  situation  by 
back-reckonings.  By  some  mismanagement,  I  con- 
clude, she  was  run  on  board  of  by  one  of  the  ene- 
my's ships,  and  dismasted.  Not  liking  delay  (for  I 
am  satisfied  that  those  two  ships  were  the  advanced 
ones  of  loe  French  squadron),  and  fancying  we 
were  close  at  their  heels,  they  set  fire  to  the  vessel, 
and  abandoned  her  in  a  hurry.  If  this  explanation 
be  correct,  I  infer  from  it,  that  they  are  gone  more 
to  the  northward,  and  more  to  the  northward  I  will 
look  for  them."  This  course  accordingly  he  held, 
but  still  without  success.  Still  persevering,  and 
still  disappointed,  he  returned  near  enough  to  Cadiz 
to  ascertain  that  they  were  not  there  ;  traversed  the 
Bay  of  Biscay ;  and  then,  as  a  last  hope,  stood 
over  for  the  northwest  coast  of  Ireland,  against  ad- 
verse winds,  till,  on  the  evening  of  the  12th  of 
August,  he  learned  that  they  had  not  been  heard  of 
there.  Frustrated  thus  in  all  his  hopes,  after  a  pur- 
suit, to  which,  for  its  extent,  rapidity,  and  perse- 


i>  11 


^i  i 


S84 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


verance,  no  parallel  can  be  produced,  he  judged  it 
best  to  reinforce  the  channel  fleet  with  his  squadron, 
lest  the  enemy,  as  CoUingwood  apprehended,  should 
bear  down  upon  Brest  with  their  whole  collected 
force.  On  the  15th,  he  joined  Admiral  Cornwallis 
off  Ushant.  No  news  had  yet  been  obtained  of 
the  enemy ;  and,  on  the  same  evening,  he  received 
orders  to  proceed,  with  the  Victory  and  Superb,  to 
Portsmouth. 


',.  v:^.-V -•;*;,- 


(.  :--^-."" 


;m;,- 


// 


':.-.:zmM'M 


,1   >■■'.  ■ '?.   . 


V-  \ 


^'•fe 


I!       I 


.1 


I    ■       / 


dged  it 
ladron, 
should 
ollected 
L'nwallis 
ined  of 
•eceived 
perb,  to 


■"^^w 


:V 


I.,. 


NeUotis  Dtparture  from  Portsmouth. 


CHAPTER  rx. 


A  T  Portsmouth,  Nelson  at  length  found  news  of 
■^  the  combined  fleets.  Sir  Robert  Calder,  who 
had  been  sent  out  to  intercept  their  return,  had 
fallen  in  with  them,  on  the  22nd  of  July,  sixty 
leagues  west  of  Cape  Finisterre.  Their  force  con- 
sisted of  twenty  sail  of  the  line,  three  fifty-gun 
ships,  five  frigates,  and  two  brigs ;  his,  of  fifteen 
line  of  battle  ships,  two  frigates,  a  cutter,  and  a 
lugger.  After  an  action  of  four  hours  he  had  cap- 
tured an  eighty-four  and  a  seventy-four,  and  then 
thought  it  necessary  to  bring-to  the  squadron,  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  their  prizes.  The  hostile 
fleets  remained  in  sight  of  each  other  till  the  26th» 


286 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON        ( 


,) 


when  the  enemy  bore  away.  The  capture  of  two 
ships  from  so  superior  a  force,  would  have  been 
considered  as  no  inconsiderable  victory  a  few  years 
earlier ;  but  Nelson  had  introduced  a  new  era  in  our 
naval  history ;  and  the  nation  felt,  respecting  this 
action,  as  he  had  felt  on  a  somewhat  similar  occa- 
sion. They  regretted  that  Nelson,  with  his  eleven 
ships,  had  not  been  in  Sir  Robert  Calder's  place; 
and  their  disappointment  was  generally  and  loudly 
expressed. 

Frustrated  as  his  own  hopes  had  been.  Nelson 
had  yet  the  high  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his 
judgment  had  never  been  more  conspicuously  ap- 
proved, and  that  he  had  rendered  essential  service 
to  his  country,  by  driving  the  enemy  from  those 
islands,  where  they  expected  there  could  be  no  force 
capable  of  opposing  them.  The  West  India  mer- 
chants in  London,  as  men  whose  interests  were 
more  immediately  benefited,  appointed  a  deputation 
to  express  their  thanks  for  his  great  and  judicious 
exertions.  It  was  now  his  intention  to  rest  awhile 
from  his  labors,  and  recruit  himself,  after  all  his 
fatigues  and  cai'es,  in  the  society  of  those  whom  he 
loved.  All  his  stores  were  brought  up  from  the 
Victory,  and  he  found  in  his  house  at  Merton  the 
enjoyment  which  he  had  anticipated.  Many  days 
had  not  elapsed  before  Captain  Blackwood,  on  his 
way  to  London  with  despatches,  called  on  him  at 
five  in  the  morning.  Nelson,  who  was  already 
dressed,  exclaimed,  the  moment  he  saw  him:  '*I 
am  sure  you  bring  me  news  of  the  French  and 
Spanish  fleets !  I  think  I  shall  yet  have  to  beat 
them  I "  They  had  refitted  at  Vigo,  after  the  inde- 
cisive action  with  Sir  Robert  Calder;  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Ferrol,  brought  out  the  squadron  from 
thence,  and  with  it  entered  Cadiz  in  safety.  ^'  De- 
pend on  it,  Blackwood,"  he  repeatedly  said,  **  I 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


287 


shall  yet  give  M.  Villeneuye  a  drubbing."  But, 
when  Blackwood  had  left  him,  he  wanted  resolu- 
tion to  declare  his  wishes  to  Lady  Hamilton  and  his 
sisters,  and  endeavored  to  drive  away  the  thought. 
He  had  done  enough ;  he  said,  *'  Let  the  man  trudge 
it  who  has  lost  his  budget  I  "  His  countenance  be- 
lied his  lips :  and  as  he  was  pacing  one  of  the  walks 
in  the  garden,  which  he  used  to  call  the  quarter- 
deck. Lady  Hamilton  came  up  to  him,  and  told  him 
she  saw  he  was  uneasy.  He  smiled,  and  said,  *'  No, 
he  was  as  happy  as  possible ;  he  was  surrounded  by 
his  family,  his  health  was  better  since  he  had  been 
on  shore,  and  he  would  not  give  sixpence  to  call  the 
king  his  uncle."  She  replied,  that  she  did  not  be- 
lieve him,  that  she  knew  he  was  longing  to  get  at 
the  combined  fleets,  that  he  considered  them  as  his 
own  property,  that  he  would  be  miserable  if  any 
man  but  himself  did  the  business ;  and  that  he 
ought  to  have  them,  as  the  price  and  reward  of  his 
two  years'  long  watching,  and  his  hard  chase. 
"  Nelson,"  said  she,  **  however  we  may  lament  your 
absence,  offer  your  sei*vices ;  they  will  be  accepted, 
and  you  will  gain  a  quiet  heart  by  it ;  you  will  have 
a  glorious  victory,  and  then  you  may  return  here, 
and  be  happy."  He  looked  at  her  with  tears  in  his 
eyes:  **  Brave  Emma!  Good  Emma!  If  there 
were  more  Emmas,  there  would  be  more  Nelsons." 
His  services  were  as  willingly  acce[  1^1  as  they 
were  offered  ;  and  Lord  Barham,  giving  bim  the  list 
of  the  navy,  desired  him  to  choose  his  own  officers. 
*'  Choose  yourself,  my  lord,"  was  his  reply :  *'  the 
same  spirit  actuates  the  whole  profession ;  you  can- 
not choose  wrong."  Lord  Bai-ham  then  desired  him 
to  say  what  ships,  and  how  many,  he  would  wish, 
in  addition  to  the  fleet  which  he  was  going  to  com- 
mand, and  said  they  should  follow  him  as  soon  as 
each  was  ready.     No  appointment  was  ever  more  in 


I 


288 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


I  li 


unison  with  the  feelings  and  judgment  of  the  whole 
nation.  They,  like  Lady  Hamilton,  thought  that 
the  destruction  of  the  combined  fleets  ought  prop- 
erly to  be  Nelson's  work ;  that  he,  who  had  been 

"  Half  around  the  sea-girt  ball,  « 

The  hunter  of  the  recreant  Qaul,"  * 

ought  to  reap  the  spoils  of  the  chase,  which  he  had 
watched  so  long,  and  so  perseveringly  pursued. 

Unremitting  exertions  were  made  to  equip  the 
ships  which  he  had  chosen,  and  especially  to  refit 
the  Victory,  which  was  once  more  to  bear  his  flag. 
Before  he  left  London,  he  called  at  his  upholster- 
er's, where  the  coffin,  which  Captain  Hallowell  had 
given  him,  was  deposited :  and  desired  that  its  his- 
tory might  be  engraven  upon  the  lid,  saying,  it  was 
highly  probable  he  might  want  it  on  his  return.  He 
seemed,  indeed,  to  have  been  impressed  with  an 
expectation  that  he  should  fall  in  the  battle.  In  a 
letter  to  his  brother,  written  immediately  after  his 
return,  he  had  said:  **We  must  not  talk  of  Sir 
Robert  Calder's  battle.  I  might  not  have  done  so 
much  with  my  small  force.  If  I  had  fallen  in  with 
them,  you  might  probably  have  been  a  lord  before  I 
wished ;  for  I  know  they  meant  to  make  a  dead  set 
at  the  Victory."  Nelson  had  once  regarded  the 
prospect  of  death  with  gloomy  satisfaction :  it  was 
when  he  anticipated  the  upbraidings  of  his  wife, 
and  the  displeasure  of  his  venerable  father.  The 
state  of  his  feelings  now  was  expressed,  in  his  pri- 
vate journal,  in  these  words :  *'  Friday  night  (Sept. 
13th),  at  half-past  ten,  I  drove  from  dear,  dear 
Merton ;  where  I  left  all  which  I  hold  dear  in  this 
world,  to  go  to  serve  my  king  and  country.  May 
the  great  God,  whom  I  adore,  enable  me  to  fulfil  the 


/i;.  / 


*  Songs  of  Trafalgar. 


V 


•Vt.  ■».il; 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


le  whole 
^ht  that 
tit  prop- 
been 


h  he  had 
aed. 

quip  the 
y  to  refit 
his  flag, 
ipholster- 
)well  had 
it  its  his- 
ig,  it  was 
urn.  He 
i  with  an 
tie.     In  a 

after  his 
ilk  of  Sir 
e  done  so 
en  in  with 
d  before  I 
a  dead  set 
arded  the 
)n :  it  was 

his  wife, 
her.  The 
in  his  pri- 
ght  (Sept. 
dear,  dew- 
ear  in  this 
try.  May 
;o  fulfil  the 


expectations  of  my  country  I  And,  if  it  is  His 
good  pleasure  that  I  should  return,  my  thanks  will 
never  cease  being  offered  up  to  the  throne  of  His 
mercy.  If  it  is  His  good  providence  to  cut  short 
my  days  upon  earth,  I  bow  with  the  greatest  sub- 
mission ;  relying  that  He  will  protect  those  so  dear 
to  me,  whom  I  may  leave  behind!  His  will  be 
done.     Amen  I    Amen !     Amen  I " 

Early  on  the  following  morning  he  reached  Forts- 
mouth  ;  and,  having  despatched  his  business  on 
shore,  endeavored  to  elude  the  populace  by  taking  a 
byeway  to  the  beach ;  but  a  crowd  collected  in  his 
ti'ain,  pressing  forward  to  obtain  sight  of  his  face ; 
many  were  in  tears,  and  many  knelt  down  before 
him,  and  blessed  him  as  he  passed.  England  has 
had  many  heroes ;  but  never  one  who  so  entirely 
possessed  the  love  of  his  fellow-countrymen  as  Nel- 
son. All  men  knew  that  his  heart  was  as  humane 
as  it  was  fearless :  that  there  was  not  in  his  nature 
the  slightest  alloy  of  selfishness  or  cupidity ;  but 
that,  with  perfect  and  entire  devotion,  he  served  his 
country  with  all  his  heart,  and  with  all  his  soul,  and 
with  all  his  strength ;  and,  therefore,  they  loved 
him  as  truly  and  as  fervently  as  he  loved  England. 
They  pressed  upon  the  parapet,  to  gaze  after  him 
when  his  barge  pushed  off,  and  he  was  returning 
their  cheers  by  waving  his  hat.  The  sentinels,  who 
endeavored  to  prevent  them  from  trespassing  upon 
this  ground,  were  wedged  among  the  crowd;  and 
an  officer,  who,  riot  very  prudently  upon  such  an 
occasion,  ordered  them  to  drive  the  people  down 
with  their  bayonets,  was  compelled  speedily  to 
retreat ;  for  the  people  would  not  be  debarred  from 
gazing,  till  the  last  moment,  upon  the  hero — the 
darling  hero — of  England ! 

He  arrived  off  Cadiz  on  the  29th  of  September — 
his  birth-day.  Fearing  that,  if  the  enemy  knew  his 
19 


890 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


fjy 


force  1  they  might  be  deterred  from  venturing  to  sea, 
he  kept  out  of  sight  of  land,  desired  Colling  wood 
to  fire  no  salute,  and  hoist  no  colors ;  and  wrote  to 
Gibraltar,  to  request  that  the  force  of  the  fleet 
might  not  be  inserted  there  in  the  '*  Gazette."  His 
reception  in  the  Mediterranean  fleet  was  as  gratify- 
ing as  the  farewell  of  his  countrymen  at  Ports- 
mouth :  the  oflScers,  who  came  on  board  to  welcome 
him,  forgot  his  rank  as  commander,  in  their  joy  at 
seeing  him  again.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival,  Vil- 
leneuve  received  orders  to  put  to  sea  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. Villeneuve,  however,  hesitated,  when  he 
heard  that  T^elson  had  resumed  the  command.  He 
called  a  council  of  war ;  and  their  determination 
was,  that  it  would  not  be  expedient  to  leave  Cadiz, 
unless  they  had  reason  to  believe  themselves 
stronger  by  one-third  than  the  British  force.  In 
the  public  measures  of  this  country,  secrecy  is  sel- 
dom practicable,  and  seldom  attempted :  here,  how- 
ever, by  the  precautions  of  Nelson,  and  the  wise 
measures  of  the  admiralty,  the  enemy  were  for  once 
kept  in  ignorance ;  for,  as  the  ships  appointed  to 
reinforce  the  Mediten'anean  fleet  were  despatched 
singly,  each  as  soon  as  it  was  ready, — their  collected 
number  was  not  stated  in  the  newspapers,  and  their 
arrival  was  not  known  to  the  enemy.  But  the 
enemy  knew  that  Admiral  Louis,  with  six  sail,  had 
been  detached  for  stores  and  water  to  Gibraltar. 
Accident  also  contributed  to  make  the  French 
admiral  doubt  whether  Nelson  himself  had  actually 
taken  the  command.  An  American,  lately  amved 
from  England,  maintained  that  it  was  impossible — 
for  he  had  seen  him  only  a  few  days  before  in  Lon- 
don ;  and,  at  that  time,  there  was  no  rumor  of  his 
going  again  to  sea. 

The  station  which  Nelson  had  chosen  was  some 
fifty  or  sixty  miles  to  the  west  of  Cadiz,  near  Cape 


A 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


201 


^  to  sea, 

ingwood 
wrote  to 
the  flfiet 
e."     Hi8 
1  gratify- 
it  Ports- 
welcome 
jir  joy  at 
•ival,  Vil- 
fst  oppor- 
when  he 
and.     He 
rmination 
tve  Cadiz, 
hemselves 

force.    In 
ecy  is  sel- 
here,  how- 
i  the  wise 
•e  for  once 
pointed  to 
iespatched 
ir  collected 
,  and  their 
But  the 
ix  sail,  had 
Gibraltar, 
he    French 
lad  actually 
tely  an-ived 
upossible — 
'ore  in  Lon- 
amor  of  his 

Q  was  some 
s,  near  Cape 


St.  Mary's.  At  this  dlHtancc  he  hoped  to  decoy  the 
enemy  out,  while  he  guarded  against  tiie  danger  of 
being  caught  with  a  westerly  wind  near  Cadiz,  and 
driven  within  the  Straits.  The  blockade  of  the  port 
was  rigorously  enforced,  in  hopes  that  the  combined 
fleet  might  be  forced  to  sea  by  want.  The  Danish 
vessels,  therefore,  which  were  carrying  provisions 
from  the  French  ports  in  the  bay,  under  the  name 
of  Danish  property,  to  all  the  little  ports  from 
Ayamonte  to  Algeziras,  from  whence  they  were  con- 
veyed in  coasting  boats  to  Cadiz,  were  seized.  With- 
out this  proper  exertion  of  power,  the  blockade 
would  have  been  rendered  nugatory,  by  the  advan- 
tage thus  taken  of  the  neutral  flag.  The  supplies 
from  France  were  thus  effectually  cut  oflf.  There 
was  now  every  indication  that  the  enemy  would 
speedily  venture  out :  officers  and  men  were  in  ihe 
highest  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  giving  them  a  de- 
cisive blow :  such,  indeed,  as  would  put  an  end  to 
all  further  contest  upon  the  seas.  Theatrical  amuse- 
ments were  performed  every  evening  in  most  of  the 
ships :  and  God  Save  the  King  was  the  hymn  with 
which  the  sports  concluded.  "I  verily  believe," 
said  Nelson,  writing  on  the  6th  of  October,  **  that 
the  country  will  soon  be  put  to  som^  expense  on  my 
account ;  either  a  monument  or  a  new  pension  and 
honors ;  for  I  have  not  the  smallest  doubt  but  that 
a  very  few  days,  almost  hours,  will  put  us  in  battle. 
The  success  no  man  can  insure ;  but  for  the  fight- 
ing them,  if  they  can  be  got  at,  I  pledge  myself. — 
The  sooner  the  better :  I  don't  like  to  have  these 
things  upon  my  mind." 

At  this  time  he  was  not  without  some  cause  of 
anxiety  ;  he  was  in  want  of  frigates — the  eyes  of  the 
fleet,  as  he  always  called  them :  to  the  want  of  which 
tlie  enemy  before  were  indebted  for  their  escape,  and 
Bonaparte  for  his  arrival  in  Egypt.     He  had  only 


\ 


If.i' 


292 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSOx,. 


'V'y. 


twenty-three  ships — others  were  on  the  way — but 
they  might  come  too  late  ;  and,  though  Nelson  never 
doubted  of  victory,  mere  victory  was  not  what  he 
looked  to,  he  wanted  to  annihilate  the  enemy's  fleet. 
The  Carthagena  squadron  might  effect  a  junction 
with  this  fleet  on  the  one  side  ;  and,  on  the  other,  it 
was  to  be  expected  that  a  similar  attempt  would  be 
made  by  the  French  from  Brest ;  in  either  case  a 
formidable  contingency  to  be  apprehended  by  the 
blockading  force.  The  Rochefort  squadron  did  push 
out,  and  had  nearly  caught  the  Agamemnon  and 
FAimable  in  their  way  to  reinforce  the  British  ad- 
miral. Yet  Nelson  at  this  time  weakened  his  own 
fleet.  He  had  the  unpleasant  task  to  perform  of 
sending  home  Sir  Robert  Calder,  whose  conduct  was 
to  be  made  the  subject  of  a  court-martial,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  general  dissatisfaction  which  had  been 
felt  and  expressed  at  his  imperfect  victory.  Sir 
Robert  Calder,  and  Sir  John  Orde,  Nelson  believed 
to  be  the  only  two  enemies  whom  he  had  ever  had 
in  his  profession ;  and,  from  that  sensitive  delicacy 
which  distinguished  him,  this  made  him  the  more 
scrupulously  anxious  to  show  every  possible  mark  of 
respect  and  kindness  to  Sir  Robert.  He  wished  to 
detain  him  till  after  the  expected  action ;  when  the 
services  which  he  might  perform,  and  the  triumph- 
ant joy  which  would  be  excited,  would  leave  nothing 
to  be  apprehended  from  an  inquiry  into  the  previous 
engagement.  Sir  Robert,  however,  whose  situation 
was  very  painful,  did  not  choose  to  delay  a  trial, 
from  the  result  of  which  he  confidently  expected  a 
complete  justification :  and  Nelson,  instead  of  send- 
ing him  home  in  a  frigate,  insisted  on  his  returning 
in  his  own  ninety-gun  ship ;  ill  as  such  a  ship  could 
at  that  time  be  spared.  Nothing  could  be  more 
honorable  than  the  feeling  by  which  Nelson  was 
influenced ;  but,  at  such  a  crisis  it  ought  not  to 
have  been  indulged. 


V 


.  ■ .  ■.■»  f 

■     -  t  r 

> 

THE  LIt'E  OF  NELSON. 

2fl3 

ly— but 
>n  never 
what  he 
^'s  fleet, 
junction 
other,  it 
rould  be 
'  case  a 
I  by  the 
did  push 
non  and 
ritish  ad- 
[  his  own 
jrform  of 
duct  was 
in  conse- 
had  been 
)ry.     Sir 
I  believed 
ever  had 
delicacy 
the  more 
e  mark  of 
wished  to 
when  the 
triumph- 
7e  nothing 
e  previous 
i  situation 
ly  a  trial, 
jxpected  a 
id  of  send- 
I  returning 
ship  could 
i  be  more 
elson  was 
ght  not  to 


,,-  On  the  9th,  Nelson  sent  CoUingwood  what  he 
called,  in  his  diary,  the  Nelson-touch.  **  I  send  you," 
said  he,  '^  my  plan  of  attack,  as  far  as  a  man  dare 
venture  l}o  guess  at  the  very  uncertain  position  the 
enemy  may  be  found  in :  but  it  is  to  place  you  per- 
fectly at  ease  respecting  my  intentions,  and  to  give 
full  scope  to  your  judgment  for  carrying  them  into 
effect.  We  can,  my  dear  Coll,  have  no  little  jeal- 
ousies. "We  have  only  one  great  object  in  view, 
that  of  annihilating  our  enemies,  and  getting  a 
glorious  peace  for  our  country.  No  man  has  more 
confidence  in  another  than  I  have  in  you ;  and  no 
man  will  render  your  services  more  justice  than 
your  very  old  friend.  Nelson  and  Bronte."  The 
order  of  sailing  was  to  be  the  order  of  battle ;  the 
fleet  in  two  lines,  with  an  advanced  squadron  of  eight 
of  the  fastest  sailing  two-deckers.  The  second  in 
command,  having  the  entire  direction  of  his  line, 
was  to  break  through  the  enemy,  about  the  twelfth 
ship  from  their  rear:  he  would  lead  through  the 
centre,  and  the  advanced  squadron  was  to  cut  off 
three  or  four  ahead  of  the  centre.  This  plan  was 
to  be  adapted  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  so  thai 
they  should  always  be  one-fourth  superior  to  those 
whom  they  cut  off.  Nelson  said,  '^  That  his  admi- 
rals and  captains,  knowing  his  precise  object  to  be 
that  of  a  close  and  decisive  action,  would  supply  any 
deficiency  of  signals,  and  act  accordingly.  In  case 
signals  cannot  be  seen  or  clearly  understood,  no  cap- 
tain can  do  wrong  if  he  places  his  ship  alongside 
that  of  an  enemy.  One  of  the  last  orders  of  this 
admirable  man  was,  that  the  name  and  family  of 
every  officer,  seaman,  and  marine,  who  might  be 
killed  or  wounded  in  action,  should  be,  as  soon  as 
possible,  returned  to  him,  in  order  to  be  transmitted 
to  the  chairman  of  the  patriotic  fund,  that  the  case 
might  be  taken  into  consideration,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  sufferer  or  his  family. 


^ 


294 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON 


I    1 


t     I   I      ' 


About  half -past  nine  in  the  morning  of  the  19th, 
the  Mars,  being  the  nearest  to  the  fleet  of  the  ships 
which  formed  the  line  of  communication  with  the 
frigates  in-shore,  repeated  the  signal,  that  the  enemy 
was  coming  out  of  port.  The  wind  was  at  this  time 
very  light,  with  partial  breezes,  mostly  from  the 
S.  S.  W.  Nelson  ordered  the  signal  to  be  made  for 
a  chase  in  the  south-east  quarter.  About  two,  the 
repeating  ships  announced  that  the  enemy  were  at 
sea.  All  night  the  British  fleet  continued  under  all 
sail,  steering  to  the  south-east.  At  day-break  they 
were  in  the  entrance  of  the  Straits,  but  the  enemy 
were  not  in  sight.  About  seven,  one  of  the  frigates 
made  signal  that  the  enemy  were  bearing  north. 
Upon  this  the  Victory  hove  to ;  and  shortly  after- 
wards Nelson  made  sail  again  to  the  northward.  In 
the  afternoon  the  wind  blew  fresh  from  the  south- 
west, and  the  English  began  to  fear  that  the  foe 
might  be  forced  to  return  to  port.  A  little  before 
sunset,  however,  Blackwood,  in  the  Euryahis,  tele- 
graphed that  they  appeared  determined  to  go  to  the 
westward.  "And  that,"  said  the  admiral  in  his 
diary,  "  they  shall  not  do,  if  it  is  in  the  power  of 
Nelson  and  Bronte  to  prevent  them."  Nelson  had 
signified  to  Blackwood  that  he  depended  upon  him 
to  keep  sight  of  the  enemy.  They  were  observed 
so  well,  that  all  their  motions  were  made  known  to 
him  ;  and,  as  they  wore  twice,  he  inferred  that  they 
were  aiming  to  keep  the  port  of  Cadiz  open,  and 
would  retreat  there  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  British 
fleet ;  for  this  reason  he  was  very  careful  not  to  ap- 
proach near  enough  to  be  seen  by  them  during  the 
night.  At  day-break  the  combined  fleets  were  dis- 
tinctly seen  from  the  Victory's  deck,  formed  in  a 
close  line  of  battle  ahead,  on  the  starboard  tack, 
about  twelve  miles  to  leeward,  and  standing  to  the 
south.     Our  fleet  consisted  of  twenty-seven  sail  of 


A^: 


'.,*'■ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


206 


le  19th, 
he  ships 
with  the 
le  enemy 
bhis  time 
I'om  the 
nade  for 
two,  the 
J  were  at 
under  all 
eak  they 
le  enemy 
}  frigates 
g   north, 
tly  af  ter- 
ivard.   In 
ae  south- 
t  the  foe 
tie  before 
ilus,  tele- 
go  to  the 
:al  in  his 

power  of 
elson  had 
upon  him 

observed 
known  to 
L  that  they 
open,  and 
he  British 
not  to  ap- 
iuring  the 
J  were  dis- 
rmed  in  a 
oard  tack, 
ling  to  the 
yen  sail  of 


thelii»'  :nd  four  frigates  ;  theirs  of  thirty-three  and 
seven  ge  frigates.  Their  superiority  was  greater 
in  size,  and  weight  of  metal,  than  in  numbers.  They 
had  four  thousand  troops  on  board ;  and  the  best 
riflemen  who  could  be  procured,  many  of  them  Ty- 
rolese,  were  dispersed  through  the  ships.  Little  did 
the  Tyrolese  and  little  did  the  Spaniards,  at  that 
day,  imagine  what  horrors  the  wicked  tyrant  whom 
they  served  was  preparing  for  their  country. 

Soon  after  day-light  Nelson  came  upon  deck.  The 
21st  of  October  was  a  festival  in  his  family,  because 
on  that  day  his  uncle.  Captain  Suckling,  in  the 
Dreadnought,  with  two  other  line  of  battle  ships, 
had  beaten  off  a  French  squadron  of  four  sail  of  the 
line  and  three  frigates.  Nelson,  with  that  sort  of 
superstition  from  which  few  persons  are  entirely 
exempt,  had  more  than  once  expressed  his  persuasion 
that  this  was  to  be  the  day  of  his  battle  also ;  and  he 
was  well  pleased  at  seeing  his  prediction  about  to  be 
verified.  The  wind  was  now  from  the  west,  light 
breezes,  with  a  long  heavy  swell.  Signal  was  made 
to  bear  down  upon  the  enemy  in  two  lines  ;  and  the 
fleet  set  all  sail.  CoUingwood,  in  the  Royal  Sover- 
eign, led  the  lee  line  of  thirteen  ships ;  the  Victory 
led  the  weather  line  of  fourteen.  Having  seen  that 
all  was  as  it  should  be.  Nelson  retired  to  his  cabin, 
and  wrote  the  following  prayer : — 

"  May  the  great  God,  whom  I  worship,  grant  to 
my  country,  and  for  the  benefit  of  Europe  in  gene- 
ral, a  great  and  glorious  victory,  and  may  no  mis- 
conduct in  any  one  tarnish  it :  and  may  humanity 
after  victory  be  the  predominant  feature  in  the 
British  fleet!  For  myself  individually,  I  commit 
my  life  to  Him  that  made  me  ;  and  may  His  bless- 
ing alight  on  my  endeavors  for  serving  my  country 
faithfully  I  To  Him  I  resign  myself,  and  the  just 
cause  which  is  entrusted  to  me  to  defend.  Amen, 
Amen,  Amen.' 


I 


»» 


•\  -.■^ 


I  ll 


k.L. 


206 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON.      { 


i 


Having  thus  discharged  his  devotional  duties,  he 
annexed,  in  the  same  diary,  the  following  remark- 
able writing : — 

^*  October  21st,  1805. — Then  in  sight  of  the  combined 
fleets  of  France  and  Spain,  distant  about  ten 
miles. 

"  Whereas  the  eminent  services  of  Emma  Hamil- 
ton, widow  of  the  Right  Honorable  Sir  William 
Hamilton,  have  been  of  the  very  greatest  service  to 
my  king  and  my  country,  to  my  knowledge,  without 
ever  receiving  any  reward  from  either  our  king  or 
country. 

**  First :  That  she  obtained  the  King  of  Spain*s 
letter,  in  1796,  to  his  brother,  the  King  of  Naples, 
acquainting  him  of  his  intention  to  declare  war 
against  England;  from  which  letter  the  ministry 
sent  out  orders  to  the  then  Sir  John  Jervis  to  strike 
a  stroke,  if  opportunity  offered,  against  either  the 
arsenals  of  Spain  or  her  fleets.  That  neither  of 
these  was  done,  is  not  the  fault  of  Lady  Hamilton ; 
the  opportunity  might  have  been  offered. 

"  Secondly :  the  British  fleet  under  my  command 
could  never  have  returned  the  second  time  to  Egypt, 
had  not  Lady  Hamilton's  influence  with  the  Queen 
of  Naples  caused  letters  to  be  wrote  to-  the  governor 
of  Syracuse,  that  he  was  to  encourage  the  fleet's 
being  supplied  with  everything,  should  they  put  into 
any  port  in  Sicily.  We  put  into  Syracuse,  and  re- 
ceived every  supply ;  went  to  Egypt,  and  destroyed 
the  French  fleet. 

*'  Could  I  have  rewarded  these  services,  I  would 
not  now  call  upon  my  country ;  but  as  that  has  not 
been  in  my  power,  I  leave  Emma  Lady  Hamilton 
therefore  a  legacy  to  my  king  and  country,  that 
they  will  give  her  an  ample  provision  to  maintain 
her  rank  in  life.  ^       .  v 


.  / 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


297 


"I  also  leave  to  the  beneficence  of  my  country 
my  adopted  daughter,  Horatia  Nelson  Thompson ; 
and  I  desire  she  will  use  in  future  the  name  of 
Nelson  only. 

*'  These  are  the  only  favors  I  ask  of  my  king  and 
country,  at  this  moment  when  I  am  going  to  fight 
their  battle.  May  God  bless  my  king  and  country, 
and  all  those  I  hold  dear !  My  relations,  it  is  need- 
less to  mention :  they  will,  of  course,  be  amply  pro- 
vided for.  "  Nelson  and  Bronte. 


"Witness 


j  Henry  Blackwood. 
IT.  M.  Hardy." 


The  child  of  whom  this  writing  speaks,  was  be- 
lieved to  be  his  daughter,  and  so,  indeed,  he  called 
her  the  last  time  that  he  pronounced  her  name.  She 
was  then  about  five  years  old,  living  at  Merton,  un- 
der Lady  Hamilton's  care.  The  last  minutes  which 
Nelson  passed  at  Merton,  were  employed  in  praying 
over  this  child,  as  she  lay  sleeping.  A  portrait  of 
Lady  Hamilton  hung  in  his  cabin ;  and  no  Catholic 
ever  beheld  the  picture  of  his  patron  saint  with  de- 
vouter  reverence.  The  undisguised  and  romantic 
passion  with  which  he  regarded  it,  amounted  almost 
to  superstition ;  and  when  the  portrait  was  now 
taken  down,  in  clearing  for  action,  he  desired  the 
men  who  removed  it  to  "  take  care  of  his  guardian 
angel."  In  this  manner  he  frequently  spoke  of  it, 
as  if  he  believed  there  were  a  virtue  in  the  image. 
He  wore  a  miniature  of  her,  also,  next  his  heart. 

Blackwood  went  on  board  the  Victory  about  six. 
He  found  him  in  good  spirits  but  very  calm ;  not  in 
that  exhilaration  which  he  had  felt  upon  entering 
into  battle  at  Aboukir  and  Copenhagen ;  he  knew 
that  his  own  life  would  be  particularly  aimed  at,  and 
seems  to  have  looked  for  death  with  almost  as  sure 
an  expectation  as  for  victory.     His  whole  attention 


208 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


i 


itl'ti 


./ 


\ 


was  fixed  upon  the  enemy.  They  tacked  to  the 
northward,  and  formed  their  line  on  the  larboard 
tack ;  thus  bringing  the  shoals  of  Trafalgar  and  St. 
Pedro  under  the  lee  of  the  British,  and  keeping  the 
port  of  Cadiz  open  for  themselves.  This  was  judi- 
ciously done ;  and  Nelson,  aware  of  all  the  advan- 
tages which  it  gave  them,  made  signal  to  prepare  to 
anchor. 

Villeneuve  was  a  skilful  seaman  ;  worthy  of  serv- 
ing a  better  master,  and  a  better  cause.  His  plan 
of  defence  was  as  well  conceived,  and  as  original, 
as  the  plan  of  attack.  He  formed  the  fleet  in  a 
double  line ;  every  alternate  ship  being  about  a 
cable's  length  to  windward  of  her  second  ahead  and 
astern.  Nelson,  certain  of  a  triumphant  issue  to 
the  day,  asked  Blackwood  what  he  should  consider 
as  a  victory.  That  officer  answered,  that,  consider- 
ing the  handsome  way  in  which  battle  was  offered 
by  the  enemy,  their  apparent  determination  for  a 
fair  trial  of  strength,  and  the  situation  of  the  land, 
he  thought  it  would  be  a  glorious  result  if  fourteen 
were  captured.  He  replied :  '*  I  shall  not  be  satis- 
fied with  less  than  twenty."  Soon  afterwards  he 
asked  him,  if  he  did  not  think  there  was  a  signal 
wanting.  Captain  Blackwood  made  answer,  that  he 
thought  the  whole  fleet  seemed  very  clearly  to  un- 
derstand what  they  were  about.  These  words  were 
scarcely  spoken  before  that  signal  was  made,  which 
will  be  remembered  as  long  as  the  language,  or 
even  the  memory  of  England  shall  endure — Nel- 
son's last  signal : — "England  expects  evert  man 
WILL  DO  HIS  DUTY ! "  It  was  rcceivcd  throughout 
the  fleet  with  a  shout  of  answering  acclamation, 
made  sublime  by  the  spirit  which  it  breathed,  and 
the  feeling  which  it  expressed.  "Now,"  said  Lord 
Nelson,  "  I  can  do  no  more.  We  must  trust  to  the 
great  Disposer  of  all  events,  and  the  justice  of  our 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


299 


I  to  the 
larboard 
•  and  St. 
jping  the  . 
7&8  judi-  ',: 
e  advan- 
repare  to 

r  of  serv- 
His  plan 

original, 
leet  in  a 

about  a 
bead  and 

issue  to 

consider 
consider- 
is  offered 
ion  for  a 

the  land, 
f  fourteen 
b  be  satis- 
rwards  he 
IS  a  signal 
er,  that  he 
arly  to  un- 
cords were 
ade,  which 
iguage,  or 
iure — Nel- 

EVERT    MAN 

throughout 
3clamation, 
bathed,  and 
'  said  Lord 
trust  to  the 
jtice  of  our 


cause.    I  thank  God  for  this  great  opportunity  of 
doing  my  duty." 

He  wore  that  day,  as  usual,  his  admiral's  frock 
coat,  bearing  on  the  left  breast  four  stars,  of  the 
different  orders  with  which  he  was  invested.  Orna- 
ments which  rendered  him  so  conspicuous  a  mark 
for  the  enemy,  were  beheld  with  ominous  apprehen- 
sions by  his  officers.  It  was  known  that  there  were 
riflemen  on  board  the  French  ships ;  and  it  could  not 
be  doubted  but  that  his  life  would  be  particularly 
aimed  at.  They  communicated  their  fears  to  each 
other ;  and  the  surgeon,  Mr.  Beatty,*  spoke  to  the 
chaplain.  Dr.  Scott,  and  to  Mr.  Scott,  the  public 
secretary,  desiring  that  some  person  would  entreat 
him  to  change  his  dress,  or  cover  the  stars ;  but  they 
knew  that  such  a  request  would  highly  displease 
him.  ^^  In  honor  I  gained  them,"  he  had  said,  when 
such  a  thing  had  been  hinted  to  him  formerly,  ^'  and 
in  honor  I  will  di«  with  them."  Mr.  Beatty,  however, 
would  not  have  been  deterred  by  any  fear  of  excit- 
ing his  displeasure,  from  speaking  to  him  himself 
upon  a  subject  in  which  the  weal  of  England,  as 
well  as  the  life  of  Nelson,  was  concerned — but  he 
was  ordered  from  the  deck  before  he  could  find  an 
oppoi*tunity.  This  was  a  point  upon  which  Nelson's 
officers  knew  that  it  was  hopeless  to  remonstrate  or 
reason  with  him ;  but  both  Blackwood  and  his  own 
captain.  Hardy,  represented  to  him  how  advantage- 
ous to  the  fleet  it  would  be  for  him  to  keep  out  of 
action  as  long  as  possible ;  and  he  consented  at  last 
to  let  the  Leviathan  and  the  Temeraire,  which  were 
sailing  abreast  of  the  Victory,  be  ordered  to  pass 
ahead.  Yet  even  here  the  last  infirmity  of  this 
noble  mind  was  indulged ;  for  these  ships  could  not 

*  In  this  part  of  the  work  I  have  chiefly  been  indebted  to 
this  gentleman's  "Narrative  of  Lord  Nelson's  Death," — 
a  document  as  interesting  as  it  is  authentic. 


•'*'i ' 


I  I 


800 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON 


I' 


pass  ahead  if  the  Victory  continued  to  can-y  all  her 
sail ;  and  so  far  was  Nelson  from  shortening  sail, 
that  it  was  evident  he  took  pleasure  in  pressing  on, 
and  rendering  it  impossible  for  them  to  obey  his  own 
orders.  A  long  swell  was  setting  into  the  bay  of 
Cadiz :  our  ships,  crowding  all  sail,  moved  majesti- 
cally before  it,  with  light  winds  from  the  south- 
west. The  sun  shone  on  the  sails  of  the  enemy ; 
and  their  well-formed  line,  with  their  numerous 
three-deckers,  made  an  appearance  which  any  other 
assailants  would  have  thought  formidable ;  but  the 
British  sailors  only  admired  the  beauty  and  the 
splendor  of  the  spectacle ;  and,  in  full  confidence 
of  winning  what  they  saw,  remarked  to  each  other, 
what  a  fine  sight  yonder  ships  would  make  at  Spit- 
head  !  j>    J  \ 

The  French  admiral,  from  the  Bucentaure,  beheld 
the  new  manner  in  which  his  enemy  was  advancing 
— Nelson  and  CoUingwood  each  leading  his  line ; 
and  pointing  them  out  to  his  officers,  he  is  said  to 
have  exclaimed,  that  such  conduct  could  not  fail  to 
be  successful.  Yet  Villeneuve  had  made  his  own 
dispositions  with  the  utmost  skill,  and  the  fleets 
under  his  command  waited  for  the  attack  with  per- 
fect coolness.  Ten  minutes  before  twelve  they 
opened  their  fire.  Eight  or  nine  of  the  ships  imme- 
diately ahead  of  the  Victory,  and  across  her  bows, 
fired  single  guns  at  her,  to  ascertain  whether  she 
was  yet  within  their  range.  As  soon  as  Nelson  per- 
ceived that  their  shot  passed  over  him,  he  desired 
Blackwood,  and  Captain  Prowse,  of  the  Sirius,  to 
repair  to  their  respective  frigates ;  and,  on  their 
way,  to  tell  all  the  captains  of  the  line  of  battle 
ships  that  he  depended  on  their  exertions  ;  and  that, 
if  by  the  prescribed  mode  of  attack  they  found  it 
impracticable  to  get  into  action  immediately,  they 
might  adopt  whatever  they  thought  best,  provided 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


301 


it  led  them  quickly  and  closely  alongside  an  enemy. 
As  they  were  standing  on  the  front  poop,  Black- 
wood took  him  by  the  hand,  saying,  he  hoped  soon 
to  return  and  find  him  in  possession  of  twenty 
prizes.  He  replied,  ''God  bless  you,  Blackwood; 
I  shall  never  see  you  again." 

Nelson's  column  was  steered  about  two  points 
more  to  the  north  than  CoUingwood's,  in  order  to 
cut  off  the  enemy's  escape  into  Cadiz :  the  lee  line, 
therefore,  was  first  engaged.  *'  See,"  cried  Nelson, 
pointing  to  the  Royal  Sovereign,  as  she  steered 
right  for  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  line,  cut  through 
it  astern  of  the  Santa  Anna,  three-decker,  and 
engaged  her  at  the  muzzle  of  her  guns  on  the  star- 
board side ;  "  see  how  that  noble  fellow,  CoUing- 
wood,  carries  his  ship  into  action !  "  CoUingwood, 
delighted  at  being  first  in  the  heat  of  the  fire,  and 
knowing  the  feelings  of  his  commander  and  old 
friend,  turned  to  his  captain,  and  exclaimed : 
*'  Rotherham,  what  would  Nelson  give  to  be  here  !  *' 
Both  these  brave  officers,  perhaps,  at  this  moment, 
thought  of  Nelson  with  gratitude,  for  a  circum- 
stance which  had  occurred  on  the  preceding  day 
Admiral  CoUingwood,  with  some  of  the  captains, 
having  gone  on  board  the  Victory  to  receive  instruc- 
tions. Nelson  inquired  of  him,  where  his  captain 
was ;  and  was  told,  in  reply,  that  they  were  not 
upon  good  terms  with  each  other.  "  Terms  !  "  said 
Nelson;  *'good  tenms  with  each  other!"  Imme- 
diately he  sent  a  boat  for  Captain  Rotherham ;  led 
him,  as  soon  as  he  arrived,  to  CoUingwood,  and 
saying:  "Look;  yonder  are  the  enemy!"  bade 
them  shake  hands  like  Englishmen. 

The  enemy  continued  to  fire  a  gun  at  a  time  at  the 
Victory,  till  they  saw  that  a  shot  had  passed  through 
her  main-top-gallant  sail ;  then  they  opened  their 
broadsides,  aiming  chiefly  at  her  rigging,   in  the 


802 


THE  LITE  OP  NELSON. 


\ 


hope  of  disabling  her  before  she  could  close  with 
them.  Nelson,  as  usual,  had  hoisted  several  flags, 
lest  one  should  be  shot  away.  The  enemy  showed 
no  colors  till  late  in  the  action,  when  they  began  to 
feel  the  necessity  of  having  them  to  strike.  For 
this  reason,  the  Santissima  Trinidad,  Nelson's  old 
acquaintance,  as  he  used  to  call  her,  was  distin- 
guishable only  by  her  four  decks ;  and  to  the  bow 
of  this  opponent  he  ordered  the  Victory  to  be 
steered.  Meantime,  an  incessant  raking  fire  was 
kept  up  upon  the  Victory.  The  admiral's  secretary 
was  one  of  the  first  who  fell ;  he  was  killed  by  a 
cannon  shot  while  conversing  with  Hardy.  Captain 
Adaii*  of  the  marines,  with  the  help  of  a  sailor,  en- 
deavored to  remove  the  body  from  Nelson's  sight, 
who  had  a  great  regard  for  Mr.  Scott :  but  he  anx- 
iously asked,  *'  Is  that  poor  Scott  that's  gone?"  and 
being  informed  that  it  was  indeed  so,  exclaimed, 
"Poor  fellow!"  Pi-esently,  a  double-headed  shot 
struck  a  party  of  marines,  who  were  drawn  up  on 
the  poop,  and  killed  eight  of  them :  upon  which 
Nelson  immediately  desired  Captain  Adair  to  dis- 
perse his  men  round  the  ship,  that  they  might  not 
suffer  so  much  from  being  together.  A  few  minutes 
afterwards  a  shot  struck  the  fore-brace  bits  on  the 
quarter-deck,  and  passed  between  Nelson  and 
Hardy,  a  splinter  from  the  bit  tearing  off  Hardy's 
buckle,  and  bruising  his  foot.  Both  stopped,  and 
looked  anxiously  at  each  other :  each  supposed  the 
other  to  be  wounded.  Nelson  then  smiled,  and 
said :  "  This  is  too  warm  work,  Hardy,  to  last 
long." 

The  Victory  had  not  yet  returned  a  single  gun ; 
fifty  of  her  men  had  been  by  this  time  killed  or 
wounded,  and  her  main-top-mast  with  all  her  stud- 
ding sails  and  their  booms  shot  away.  Nelson  de- 
clared, that,  in  all  his  battles,  he  had  seen  nothing 


• 


tilliLiiiil>i 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


303 


which  surpassed  the  cool  courage  of  his  crew  on  this 
occasion.  At  four  minutes  after  twelve,  she  opened 
her  fire  from  both  sides  of  her  deck.  It  was  not 
possible  to  break  the  enemy's  line  without  running 
on  board  one  of  their  ships ;  Hardy  informed  him 
of  this,  and  asked  him  which  he  would  prefer. 
Nelson  replied :  "  Take  your  choice,  Hardy,  it 
does  not  signify  much."  The  master  was  ordered 
to  put  the  helm  to  port,  and  the  Victory  ran  on 
board  the  Redoubtable,  just  as  her  tiller-ropes  were 
shot  away.  The  French  ship  received  her  with  a 
broadside ;  then  instantly  let  down  her  lower-deck 
ports,  for  fear  of  being  boarded  through  them,  and 
never  afterwards  fired  a  great  gun  during  the  action. 
Her  tops,  like  those  of  all  the  enemy's  ships,  were 
filled  with  riflemen.  Nelson  never  placed  mus- 
quetry  in  his  tops ;  he  had  a  strong  dislike  to  the 
practice ;  not  merely  because  it  endangers  setting 
fire  to  the  sails,  but  also  because  it  is  a  murderous 
sort  of  warfare,  by  which  individuals  may  suffer, 
and  a  commander  now  and  then  be  picked  off,  but 
which  never  can  decide  the  fate  of  a  general 
engagement. 

Captain  Harvey,  in  the  Temeraire,  fell  on  board 
the  Redoubtable  on  the  other  side.  Another  enemy 
was  in  like  manner  on  board  the  Temeraire,  so  that 
these  four  ships  formed  as  compact  a  tier  as  if  they 
had  been  moored  together,  their  heads  all  lying  the 
same  way.  The  lieutenants  of  the  Victory,  seeing 
this,  depressed  their  guns  of  the  middle  and  lower 
decks,  and  fired  with  a  diminished  charge,  lest  the 
shot  should  pass  through  and  injure  the  Temeraire. 
And  because  there  was  danger  that  the  Redoubtable 
might  take  fire  from  the  lower-deck  guns,  the  muz- 
zles of  which  touched  her  side  when  they  were  run 
out,  the  fireman  of  each  gun  stood  ready  with  a 
bucket  of  water;  which,  as  soon  as  the  gun  was 


m 


ao4 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


)- 


^  ^barged,  h«  dashed  into  the  hole  made  by  the 
■Lif'^-  An  in(''>!^»ftrit  fire  was  kept  up  from  the  Vic> 
tory  fi'om  both  sidp« ;  her  larboard  guns  playing 
upon  the  Bucentaure,  and  the  huge  Santiesima 
Trinidad. 

It  had  bee  n  part  of  Nelson's  prayer,  that  the  Bri- 
tish fleet  might  be  dii«t.inguished  by  humanity  in  the 
victory  he  expected.  Setting  an  example  himself, 
he  twice  gave  orders  to  cease  firing  upon  the  Re- 
doubtable, supposing  that  she  had  struck,  because 
her  great  guns  were  silent ;  for,  as  she  carried  no 
flag,  there  was  no  means  of  instantly  ascertaining 
the  fact.  From  this  ship,  which  he  had  thus  twice 
spared,  he  received  his  death.  A  ball  fired  f  iOni 
her  mizzen-top,  which,  in  the  then  situation  of  tin; 
two  vessels,  was  not  more  than  fifteen  yards  from 
that  part  of  the  deck  where  he  was  standing,  struck 
the  epaulette  on  his  left  shoulder,  about  a  quarter 
after  one,  just  in  the  heat  of  action.  He  fell  upon 
bis  face,  on  the  spot  which  was  covered  with  his 
poor  secretary's  blood.  Hardy,  who  was  a  few  steps 
from  him,  turning  round,  saw  three  men  raising  him 
up.  "They  have  done  for  me  at  last.  Hardy!" 
said  he.  **  I  hope  not !  "  cried  Hardy.  "  Yes,"  he 
replied  ;  "  my  back-bone  is  shot  through !  "  Yet 
even  now,  not  for  a  moment  losing  his  presence  of 
mind,  he  observed,  as  they  were  carrying  him  down 
the  ladder,  that  the  tiller-ropes,  which  had  been 
shot  away,  were  not  yet  replaced,  and  ordered  that 
new  ones  should  be  rove  immediately.  Then,  that 
he  might  not  be  seen  by  the  crew,  he  took  out  his 
handkerchief,  and  covered  his  f ar^  av"!  his  stars. 
Had  he  but  concealed  these  badges  or  honor  from 
the  enemy,  England,  perhaps,  wc  ll  nut  uave  huu 
cause  to  receive  with  sorrow  the  news  of  the  battle 
of  Trafalgar.  The  cockpit  was  crowded  with 
wounded  and  dying  men ;    over  whose  bodies  ho 


\- 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON, 


806 


I  by  the 
the  Vic- 
playing 
ntiesima 

the  Bri- 
ty  in  the 
himself, 
I  the  Re- 
because 
irried  no 
ertaining 
Ills  twice 
fed  f.om 
)n  of  tlic 
rdb  from 
g,  struck 
a  quarter 
fell  upon 
with  his 
few  steps 
ising  him 
Hardy ! " 
Yes,"  he 
1 1 "    Yet 
esence  of 
him  down 
lad  been 
lered  that 
["hen,  that 
3k  out  his 
his  stars. 
>nor  from 
aave  huu 
the  battle 
ded    with 
bodies  he 


was  with  some  ditli.  tilty  conveyed,  and  laid  upon  a 
pallet  in  the  midshipmen's  berth.  It  was  soon  per- 
ceived, upon  examination,  lluit  the  wound  was  mor- 
tal. This,  howfiver,  was  oonceaicd  from  all  except 
Captain  Hardy,  tl  ^  cha[)ljt  i,  and  the  medical  at- 
tendants. He  himself  })eing  certain,  from  the  sen- 
sation in  his  back,  and  the  gush  of  blood  he  felt 
momently  within  his  breast,  that  no  human  care 
could  avail  him,  insisted  that  the  surgeon  should 
leave  him,  and  attend  to  those  to  whom  he  might  be 
v.seful.  **For,"  said  he,  *'you  can  do  nothing  for 
me."  All  that  could  be  done  was  to  fan  him  with 
paper,  and  frequently  to  give  him  lemonade  to  alle- 
viate his  intense  thirst.  He  was  in  great  pain,  and 
expressed  much  anxiety  for  the  event  of  the  action, 
which  now  began  to  declare  itself.  As  often  as  a 
ship  struck,  the  crew  of  the  Victory  hurrah ocl ;  and 
at  every  hurrah,  a  visible  expression  of  joy  gleamed 
in  the  eyes,  and  marked  the  countenance  of  the 
dying  hero.  But  he  became  impatient  to  S(  ^  Cap- 
tain Hardy ;  and  as  that  officer,  though  of ti  i  sent 
for,  could  not  leave  the  deck.  Nelson  feared  that 
some  fatal  cause  prevented  him,  and  repeatedly 
cried :  "  Will  no  one  bring  Hardy  to  me?  He  must 
be  killed  I  He  is  surely  dead !  "  An  hour  and  ten 
minutes  elapsed  from  the  time  when  Nelson  rece  ved 
his  wound,  before  Hardy  could  come  to  him.  1  hey 
shook  hands  in  silence;  Hardy  in  vain  struggling 
to  suppress  the  feelings  of  that  most  painful  u  nd 
yet  sublimest  moment.  *'  Well,  Hardy,"  said  N-il- 
son,  "  how  goes  the  day  with  us?"  "  Very  well," 
replied  Hardy  ;  *'  ten  ships  have  struck,  but  five  ^f 
the  van  have  tacked,  and  show  an  intention  to  bear 
down  upon  the  Victory.  I  have  called  two  or  three 
of  our  fresh  ships  round,  and  have  no  doubt  of  giv- 
ing them  a  drubbing."      *'I  hope,"  said  Nelson, 

*'  none  of  our  ships  have  struck?  "  Hardy  answeredj 
20 


i 


"-"H 


.'A' 


j» 


Hi 


306 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


**  There  was  no  fear  of  that."  Then,  and  not  till 
then,  Nelson  spoke  of  himself.  "  I  am  a  dead 
man,  Hardy,"  said  he:  *'I  am  going  fast;  it  will 
be  all  over  with  rae  soon.  Come  nearer  to  me.  Let 
my  dear  Lady  Hamilton  have  my  hair,  and  all  other 
things  belonging  to  me."  Hardy  observed,  that  he 
hoped  Mr.  Beatty  could  yet  hold  out  some  prospect 
of  life.  "  Oh,  no ! "  he  replied ;  "  it  is  impossible  ; 
my  back  is  shot  through.  Beatty  will  tell  you  so." 
Captain  Hardy  then,  once  more,  shook  hands  with 
him ;  and  with  a  heart  almost  bursting,  hastened 
upon  deck. 

By.  this  time  all  feeling  below  the  breast  was 
gone ;  and  Nelson  having  made  the  surgeon  ascer- 
tain this,  said  to  him :  "  You  know  I  am  gone.  I 
know  it.  I  feel  something  rising  in  my  breast" 
(putting  his  hand  on  his  left  side)  "  which  tells 
me  so."  And  upon  Beatty's  inquiring  whether  his 
pain  was  very  great?  he  replied,  "  So  great,  that 
he  wished  he  was  dead.  Yet,"  said  he,  in  a  lower 
voice,  "  one  would  like  to  live  a  little  longer,  too  ! " 
And  after  a  few  minutes,  in  the  same  undertone,  he 
added  :  "  What  would  become  of  poor  Lady  Ham- 
ilton if  she  knew  my  situation  ! "  Next  to  his  coun- 
try, she  occupied  his  thoughts.  Captain  Hardy, 
some  fifty  minutes  after  he  had  left  the  cockpit,  re- 
turned ;  and,  again  taking  the  hand  of  his  dying 
friend  and  commander,  congratulated  him  on  having 
gained  a  complete  victory.  How  many  of  the  en- 
emy were  taken  he  did  not  know,  as  it  was  impos- 
sible to  perceive  them  distinctly,  but  fourteen  or 
fifteen  at  least.  "That's  well!"  cried  Nelson; 
*'  but  I  bargained  for  twenty."  And  then,  in  a 
stronger  voice,  he  said :  "  Anchor,  Hardy ;  anchor." 
Hardy,  upon  this,  hinted  that  Admiral  Collingwood 
would  take  upon  himself  the  direction  of  affairs. 
"  Not  while  I  live,  Hardy,"  said  the  dying  Nelson, 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


307 


d  not  till 
I  a  dead 
t ;  it  will 
me.    Let 
i  all  other 
d,  that  he 
J  prospect 
ipossible ; 
[  you  so." 
ands  with 
hastened 

ireast  was 
;eon  ascer- 
a  gone.    I 
ly  breast" 
vhich  tells 
nrhether  his 
great,  that 
in  a  lower 
iger,  too ! " 
dertone,  he 
Lady  Ham- 
:o  his  coun- 
ain  Hardy, 
cockpit,  re- 
f  his  dying 
Q  on  having 
f  of  the  en- 
was  impos- 
fourteen  or 
ed  Nelson; 
then,  in  a 
y ;  anchor." 
CoUingwood 
i  of   affairs, 
dng  Nelson, 


ineffectually  endeavoring  to  raise  himself  from  the 
bed;  "Do  you  anclior."  His  previous  order  for 
preparing  to  anchor  had  shown  how  clearly  he  fore- 
saw the  necessity  of  this.  Presently,  calling  Hardy 
back,  he  said  to  him,  in  a  low  voice :  ''  Don't  throw 
me  overboard ; "  and  he  desired  that  he  might  be 
buried  by  his  parents,  unless  it  should  please  the 
king  to  order  otherwise.  Then  reverting  to  private 
feelings — "  Take  care  of  my  dear  Lady  Hamilton, 
Hardy ;  take  care  of  poor  Lady  Hamilton.  Kiss 
me.  Hardy,"  said  ho.  Hardy  knelt  down  and 
kissed  his  cheek;  and  Nelson  said:  ''Now  I  am 
satisfied.  Thank  God,  I  have  done  my  duty ! " 
Hardy  stood  over  him  in  silence  for  a  moment  or 
two,  then  knelt  again,  and  kissed  his  forehead. 
*'  Who  is  that  ?  "  said  Nelson  ;  and  being  informed, 
he  replied :  "  God  bless  you.  Hardy."  And  Hardy 
then  left  him,  forever. 

Nelson  now  desired  to  be  turned  upon  his  right 
side,  and  said:  "I  wish  I  had  not  left  the  deck; 
for  I  shall  soon  be  gone."  Death  was,  indeed, 
rapidly  approaching.  He  said  to  the  chaplain: 
"Doctor,  I  have  not  been  a  great  sinner;"  and 
after  a  short  pause,  "  Remember  that  I  leave  Lady 
Hamilton,  and  my  daughter  Horatia,  as  a  legacy  to 
my  country."  His  articulation  now  became  diffi- 
cult; but  he  was  distinctly  heard  to  say :  "Thank 
God,  I  have  done  my  duty  !  "  These  words  he  re- 
peatedly pronounced  ;  and  they  were  the  last  words 
which  he  uttered.  He  expired  at  thirty  minutes 
after  four,  three  hours  and  a  quarter  after  he  had 
received  his  wound. 

Within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  Nelson  was 
wounded,  about  fifty  of  the  Victory's  men  fell  by  the 
enemy's  musquetry.  They,  however,  on  their  part, 
were  not  idle  ;  and  it  was  not  long  before  there  were 
only  two  Frenchmen  left  alive  in  the  mizen-top  of 


•A 

.1^ 


f)  li 


1     ! 


'1    4 


ti; 


h' 


VM 


808 


<■■■ 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


\ 


\  • 


the  Redoubtable.  One  of  them  was  the  man  who 
had  given  the  fatal  wound  ;  he  did  not  live  to  boast 
of  what  he  had  done.  An  old  quarter-master  had 
seen  him  fire ;  and  easily  recognized  him,  because 
he  wore  a  glazed  cocked  hat,  and  a  white  frock. 
This  quarter-master  and  two  midshipmen,  Mr.  Col- 
lingwood  and  Mr.  Pollard,  were  the  only  persons  left 
in  the  Victory's  poop ;  the  two  midshipmen  kept 
firing  at  the  +op,  and  he  supplied  them  with  car- 
tridges. One  of  the  Frenchmen  attempting  to  make 
his  escape  down  the  rigging,  was  shot  by  Mr.  Pol- 
lard, and  fell  on  the  poop.  But  the  old  quarter- 
master, as  he  cried  out,  "  That's  he,  that's  he  !  "  and 
pointed  at  the  other,  who  was  coming  forward  to  fire 
again,  received  a  shot  in  his  mouth,  and  fell  dead. 
Both  the  midshipmen  then  fired  at  the  same  time, 
and  the  fellow  dropped  in  the  top.  When  they  took 
possession  of  the  prize,  they  went  into  the  mi^sen- 
top,  and  found  him  dead  ;  with  one  ball  through  his 
head,  and  another  through  his  breast. 

The  Redoubtable  struck  within  twenty  minutes 
after  the  fatal  shot  had  been  fired  from  her.  Dur- 
ing that  time  she  had  been  twice  on  fire ;  in  her 
forechains,  and  in  her  forecastle.  The  French,  as 
they  had  done  in  other  battles,  made  use  in  this  of 
fire-balls,  and  other  combustibles :  implements  of 
destruction,  which  other  nations,  from  a  sense  of 
honor  and  humanity,  have  laid  aside  ;  which  add  to 
the  sufferings  of  the  wounded,  without  determining 
the  issue  of  the  combat ;  which  none  but  the  cruel 
would  employ,  and  which  never  can  be  successful 
against  the  brave.  Once  they  succeeded  in  setting 
fire,  from  the  Redoubtable,  to  some  ropes  and  can- 
vas on  the  Victory's  booms.  The  cry  ran  through 
the  ship,  and  reached  the  cockpit ;  but  even  this 
dreadful  cry  produced  no  confusion ;  the  men  dis- 
played that  perfect  self-possession  in  danger  by 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


300 


nan  who 
to  boast 
ster  had 
,  because 
be  frock. 
Mr.  Col- 
L'sons  left 
aen  kept 
mih  car- 
■  to  make 
Mr.  Pol- 
l  quarter- 
tie  ! "  and 
ird  to  fire 
fell  dead, 
ime  time, 
they  took 
he  mizeii- 
irough  his 

f  minutes 
er.     Dur- 
•e ;  in  her 
French,  as 
1  in  this  of 
ements  of 
I  sense  of 
lich  add  to 
etermining 
t  the  cruel 
successful 
[  in  setting 
3  and  can- 
m  through 
;  even  this 
e  men  dis- 
danger  by 


;  I 


which  English  seamen  are  characterized ;  they  extin- 
,  guished  the  flames  on  board  their  own  ship,  and 
then  hastened  to  extinguish  them  in  the  enemy,  by 
throwing  buckets  of  water  from  the  gangway.  When 
the  Redoubtable  had  struck,  it  was  not  practicable 
to  board  her  from  the  Victory,  for,  though  the  two 
ships  touched,  the  upper  works  of  both  fell  in  so 
much,  that  there  was  a  great  space  between  their 
gangways  ;  and  she  could  not  be  boarded  fi'om  the 
lower  or  middle  decks,  because  her  ports  were  down. 
Some  of  our  men  went  to  Lieutenant  Quilliam,  and 
offered  to  swim  under  her  bows,  and  get  up  there ; 
but  it  was  thought  unfit  to  hazard  brave  lives  in  this 
manner. 

What  our  men  would  have  done  from  gallantry, 
some  of  the  crew  of  the  Santissima  Trinidad  did  to 
save  themselves.  Unable  to  stand  the  tremendous 
fire  of  the  Victory,  whose  larboard  guns  played 
against  this  great  four-decker,  and  not  knowing  how 
else  to  escape  them,  nor  where  else  to  betake  them- 
selves for  protection,  many  of  them  leapt  overboard, 
and  swam  to  the  Victory,  and  were  actually  helped 
up  her  sides  by  the  English  during  the  action.  The 
Spaniards  began  the  battle  with  less  vivacity  than 
their  unworthy  allies,  but  continued  it  with  greater 
firmness.  The  Argonauta  and  Bahama  were  de- 
fended till  they  had  each  lost  about  four  hundred 
men  ;  the  San  Juan  Nepomuceno  lost  three  hundred 
and  fifty.  Often  as  the  superiority  of  British  cour- 
age has  been  proved  against  France  upon  the  seas, 
it  was  never  more  conspicuous  than  in  this  decisive 
conflict.  Five  of  our  ships  were  engaged  muzzle  to 
muzzle  with  five  of  the  French.  In  all  five,  the 
Frenchmen  lowered  their  lower-deck  ports,  and  de- 
serted their  guns  ;  while  our  men  continued  deliber- 
ately to  load  and  fire,  till  they  had  made  the  victory 
secure. 


310 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


\ 


«i. 


,;r!f  ' 


Once,  amidst  his  sufferings,  Nelson  had  expressed 
a  wish  that  he  were  dead  ;  but  immediately  the  spirit 
subdued  the  pains  of  death,  and  he  wished  to  live  a 
little  longer ;  doubtless  that  he  might  hear  the  com- 
pletion of  the  victory  which  he  had  seen  so  gloriously 
begun.  That  consolation,  that  joy,  that  triumph, 
was  afforded  him.  He  lived  to  know  that  the  vic- 
tory was  decisive ;  and  the  last  guns  which  were 
fired  at  the  flying  enemy,  were  heard  a  minute  or 
two  before  he  expired.  The  ships  which  were  thus 
flying,  were  four  of  the  enemy's  van,  all  French, 
under  Rear-Admiral  Dumanoir.  They  had  borne 
no  part  in  the  action ;  and,  now  when  they  were 
seeking  safety  in  flight,  they  fired  not  only  into  the 
Victory  and  Royal  Sovereign  as  they  passed,  but 
poured  their  broadsides  into  the  Spanish  captured 
ships ;  and  they  were  seen  to  back  their  top-sails, 
for  the  purpose  of  firing  with  more  precision.  The 
indignation  of  the  Spaniards  at  this  detestable 
cruelty  from  their  allies,  for  whom  they  had  fought 
so  bravely,  and  so  profusely  bled,  may  well  be  con- 
ceived. It  was  such,  that  when,  two  days  after  the 
action,  seven  of  the  ships  which  had  escaped  into 
Cadiz  came  out,  in  hopes  of  retaking  some  of  the 
disabled  prizes,  the  prisoners  in  Argonauta,  in  a 
body,  offered  their  services  to  the  British  prize- 
master,  to  man  the  guns  against  any  of  the  French 
ships :  saying,  that  if  a  Spanish  ship  came  along- 
side they  would  quietly  go  below  ;  but  they  requested 
that  they  might  be  allowed  to  fight  the  French,  in 
resentment  for  the  murderous  usage  which  they  had 
suffered  at  their  hands.  Such  was  their  earnestness, 
and  such  the  implicit  confidence  which  could  be 
placed  in  Spanish  honor,  that  the  offer  was  accepted ; 
and  they  were  actually  stationed  at  the  lower-deck 
guns.  Dumanoir  and  his  squadron  were  not  more 
fortunate  than  the  fleet  from  whose  destruction  they 


THE  LIFE  OF  NELSON. 


M 


pressed 
he  spirit 
;o  live  a 
ihe  com- 
oriously 
iriumph, 
the  vic- 
ch  were 
linute  or 
ere  thus 
French, 
id  borne 
ley  were 
into  the 
sed,  but 
captured 
bop-sails, 
m.     The 
etestable 
m  fought 
1  be  con- 
after  the 
iped  into 
Qe  of  the 
uta,  in  a 
sh  prize- 
le  French 
Me  along- 
requested 
rench,  in 
they  had 
.'nestness, 
could  be 
accepted ; 
)wer-deck 
not  more 
3tion  they 


fled:  they  fell  in  with  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  who 
was  cruising  for  the  Rochefort  squadron,  and  were 
all  taken.  In  the  better  days  of  France,  if  such  a 
crime  could  then  have  been  committed,  it  would 
have  received  an  exemplary  punishment  from  the 
French  government ;  under  Bonaparte,  it  was  sure 
of  impunity,  and,  perhaps,  might  be  thought  deserv- 
ing of  reward.  But,  if  the  Spanish  court  had  been 
independent,  it  would  have  become  us  to  have  de- 
livered Dumanoir  and  his  captains  up  to  Spain,  that 
they  might  have  been  brought  to  trial,  and  hanged 
in  sight  of  the  remains  of  the  Spanish  fleet. 

The  total  British  loss  in  the  battle  of  Trafalgar 
amounted  to  1,587.  Twenty  of  the  enemy  struck; 
— unhappily  the  fleet  did  not  anchor,  as  Nelson, 
almost  with  his  dying  breath,  had  enjoined  ; — a  gale 
came  on  from  the  south-west ;  some  of  the  prizes 
went  down,  some  went  on  shore ;  one  effected  its 
escape  into  Cadiz ;  others  were  destroyed ;  four 
only  were  saved,  and  those  by  the  greatest  exer- 
tions. The  wounded  Spaniards  were  sent  ashoi'e, 
an  assurance  being  given  that  they  should  not  serve 
till  regularly  exchanged  ;  and  the  Spaniards,  with  a 
generous  feeling  which  would  not,  perhaps,  have 
been  found  in  any  other  people,  offered  the  use  of 
their  hospitals  for  our  wounded,  pledging  the  honor 
of  Spain  that  they  should  be  carefully  attended 
there.  "When  the  storm,  after  the  action,  drove 
some  of  the  prizes  upon  the  coast,  they  declared 
that  the  English,  who  were  thus  thrown  into  their 
hands,  should  not  be  considered  as  prisoners  of 
war ;  and  the  Spanish  soldiers  gave  up  their  own 
beds  to  their  shipwrecked  enemies.  The  Spanish 
vice-admiral,  Alva,  died  of  his  wounds.  Villeneuve 
was  sent  to  England,  and  permitted  to  return  to 
France.  The  French  government  say  that  he 
destroyed  himself  on  the  way  to  Paris,  dreading 


p. II 


(     ' 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


\\ 


the  consequences  of  a  court-martial :  but  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that  the  tyrant,  who  never 
acknowledged  the  loss  of  the  battle  of  Trafalgar, 
added  Villeneuve  to  the  numerous  victims  of  his 
murderous  policy.  ■p;.u^ 

It  is  almost  superfluous  to  add,  that  all  the  honors 
which  a  grateful  country  could/bestow,  were  heaped 
upon  the  memory  of  Nelson.  His  brother  was  made 
an  earl,  with  a  grant  of  £6,000  a-year ;  £10,000 
were  voted  to  each  of  his  sisters,  and  £100,000  for 
the  purchase  of  an  estate.  A  public  funeral  was 
decreed,  and  a  public  monument.  Statues  and 
monuments  also  were  voted  by  most  of  our  princi- 
pal cities.  The  leaden  coffin,  in  which  he  was 
brought  home,  was  cut  in  pieces,  which  were  dis- 
tributed as  relics  of  St.  Nelson — so  the  gunner  of 
the  Victory  called  them : — and  when,  at  his  inter- 
ment, his  flag  was  about  to  be  lowered  into  the 
grave,  the  sailors,  who  assisted  at  the  ceremony, 
with  one  accord  rent  it  in  pieces,  that  each  might 
preserve  a  fragment  while  he  lived. 

The  death  of  Nelson  was  felt  in  England  as 
something  more  than  a  public  calamity  ;  men  started 
at  the  intelligence,  and  turned  pale  ;  as  if  they  had 
heard  of  the  loss  of  a  dear  friend.  An  object  of 
our  admu'ation  and  affection,  of  our  pride  and  of 
our  hopes,  was  suddenly  taken  from  us ;  and  it 
seemed  as  if  we  had  never,  till  then,  known  how 
deeply  we  loved  and  reverenced  him.  What  the 
country  had  lost  in  its  great  naval  hero — the  great- 
est of  our  own  and  of  all  former  times — was 
scarcely  taken  into  the  account  of  grief.  So  per- 
fectly, indeed,  had  he  performed  his  part,  that  the 
maritime  war  after  the  battle  of  Trafalgar  was  con- 
sidered at  an  end :  the  fleets  of  the  enemy  were  not 
merely  defeated,  but  destroyed:  new  navies  must 
be  built,  and  a  new  race  of  seamen  reared  for  them, 


V\ 


.  / 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


313 


there  is 
o  never 
afalgar, 
}  of  his 

3  honors 
J  heaped 
as  made 
£10,000 
1,000  for 
3ral  was 
ues  and 
r  princi- 
he  was 
rere  dis- 
unner  of 
is  inter- 
into  the 
sremony, 
jh  might 

rland  as 
n  started 
they  had 
object  of 
e  and  of 
;  and  it 
>wn  how 
Vhat  the 
he  great- 
aes — was 
So  per- 
that  the 
was  con- 
were  not 
ies  must 
for  them, 


before  the  possibility  of  their  invading  onr  shores 
could   again  be  contemplated.     It  was  not,  there- 
fore, from  any  selfish  reflection  upon  the  magnitude 
of  our  loss  that  we  mourned  for  him :  the  general 
sorrow  was  of  a  higher  character.     The  people  of 
England  grieved  that  funeral  ceremonies,  and  pub- 
lic monuments,  and  posthumous  rewards,  were  all 
which  they  could  now  bestow  upon  him,  whom  the 
king,  the  legislature,  and  the  nation,  would  have 
alike  delighted  to  honor ;  whom  every  tongue  would 
have    blessed ;    whose    presence    in    every   village 
through  which  he  might  have  passed,  would  have 
wakened  the  church  bells,  have  given  school-boys  a 
holiday,  have  drawn  children  from  their  sports  to 
gaze  upon  him,  and  "old  men  from  the  chimney 
corner,"  to  look  upon  Nelson  ere  they  died.     The 
victory  of  Trafalgar  was  celebrated,  indeed,  with 
the  usual  forms  of  rejoicing,  but  they  were  without 
joy ;  for  such  already  was  the  glory  of  the  British 
navy,  through  Nelson's  surpassing  genius,  that  it 
scarcely  seemed  to  receive  any  addition  from  the 
most  signal  victory  that  ever  was  achieved  upon  the 
seas :  and  the  destruction  of  this  mighty  fleet,  by 
which   all   the  maritime   schemes  of   France  were 
totally  frusti'ated,  hardly  appeared  to  add   to  our 
security  or  sti'ength ;  for,  while  Nelson  was  living 
to  watch  the  combined  squadrons  of  the  enemy,  we 
felt  ourselves  as  secure  as  now,  when  they  were  no 
longer  in  existence. 

There  was  reason  to  suppose,  from  the  appear- 
ances upon  opening  the  body,  that,  in  the  course  of 
nature,  he  might  have  attained,  like  his  father,  to  a 
good  old  age.  Yet  he  cannot  be  said  to  have  fallen 
prematurely  whose  work  was  done ;  nor  ought  he  to 
be  lamented,  who  died  so  full  of  honors,  and  at  the 
height  of  human  fame.  The  most  triumphant  death 
is  that  of  the  martyr ;  the  most  awful  that  of  the 


w 


ml . 

IK,, 

■  li   i 

■  u 

iii 


THE  LIFE  OP  NELSON. 


■r 


i- 


martyred  *  patriot ;  the  most  splendid  that  of  the 
hero  in  the  hour  of  victory  ;  and  if  the  chariot  and 
the  horses  of  fire  had  been  vouchsafed  for  Nelson's 
translation,  he  could  scarcely  have  departed  in  a 
brighter  blaze  of  glory.  He  has  left  us,  not  indeed 
his  mantle  of  inspiration,  but  a  name  and  an 
example,  which  are  at  this  hour  inspiring  thousands 
of  the  youth  of  England :  a  name  which  is  our 
pride,  and  an  example  which  will  continue  to  be  our 
shield  and  our  strength.  Thus  it  is  that  the  spirits 
of  the  great  and  the  wise  continue  to  live  and  to  act 
after  them;  verifying,  in  this  sense,  the  language 
of  the  old  mythologist  : — 

Tol  (iBV  dalfioves  elcrl,  ^idg  fiiyaXov  di&  ^ovX&g 


r- 


MESSRS.    ROBERTS    BROTHERS' 


of  the 
riot  and 
kelson's 
bed  in  a 
t  indeed 
and  an 
iOusands 

is  our 
o  be  our 
le  spirits 
id  to  act 
anguage 


vX&g 

TfOiV, 


€la)$0tc   ^evteiai. 


b 


4 


A  collection  of  world-renowned  works  selected  from  the 
literatures  of  all  nations,  printed  from  new  type  in  the  best 
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READY  AND  IN  PREPARATION. 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  "Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel," 

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"  There  are  no  books  for  boys  like  these  poems  by  Sir  Walter 
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Oliver   Goldsmith's  "The   Vicar   of   Wakefield." 
With  Illustrations  by  Mulready. 

Defoe's   "Robinson    Crusoe."     With  Illustrations  by 
Stothard. 

Bernardin  de  Saint-Pierre's  "Paul  and  Virginia." 
With  Illustrations  by  Lalauze. 

Southey's  "Life  of  Nelson."    With  Illustrations  by 
Birket  Foster. 

Voltaire's  "Life  of  Charles  the  Twelfth,"    With 
Maps  and  Portraits. 

Maria   Edgeworth's  "Classic   Tales."    With  a  bio- 
graphical Sketch  by  Grace  A.  Oliver. 

Lord  Macaulay's  "Lays  of  Ancient  Rome."    With 
a  Biographical  Sketch  and  Illustrations. 

Bunyan's  "  Pilgrim's  Progress."  With  all  of  the  origi- 
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Classic   Heroic   Ballads.     Edited  by  the  Editor  of 
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Classic  Tales.     By  Anna  Letitia  Barbauld.    With  a 
Biographical  Sketch  by  Grace  A.  Oliver. 

Classic  Tales.     By  Ann  and   Jane   Taylor.     With  a 
Biographical  Sketch  by  Grace  A.  Oliver. 

AND    OTHERS. 


m 


pir. 


'*'■■ 


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GEORGE    ELIOT. 

By  MATHILDE  BLIND. 
One  vol.    i6mo.    Cloth.    Price,  $i.oo. 


"  Messrs.  Roberts  Brothers  begin  a  series  of  Biographies  of  Famous 
Women  with  a  life  of  George  Eliot,  by  Mathilde  Blind.  The  idea  of  the 
series  is  an  excellent  one,  and  the  reputation  of  its  publishers  is  a  guarantee 
for  its  adequate  execution.  This  book  contains  about  three  hundred  pages  in 
open  type,  and  not  only  collects  and  condenses  the  main  facts  that  are  known 
in  regard  to  the  historjr  of  George  Eliot,  but  supplies  other  material  from 
I^rsonal  research.  It  is  agreeably  written,  and  with  a  good  idea  of  propor- 
tion in  a  memoir  of  its  size.  The  critical  study  of  its  subject's  works,  which 
is  made  in  the  order  of  their  appearance,  is  particularly  well  done.  In  fact, 
good  taste  and  good  judgment  pervade  the  memoir  throughout."  —  S%*urday 
Evening  Gazette. 

"  Miss  Blind's  little  book  is  written  with  admirable  good  taste  and  judg- 
ment, and  with  notable  self-restraint.  It  does  not  weary  the  reader  with 
critical  discursiveness,  nor  with  attempts  to  search  out  high-flown  meanings 
and  recondite  oracles  in  the  plain  'yea'  and  '  nay  '  of  life.  It  is  a  graceful 
and  unpretentious  little  biography,  and  tells  all  that  need  be  told  concerning 
one  of  the  greatest  writers  of  the  time.     It  is  a  deeply  interesting  if  not 


fascinating 
Tribune. 


woman   whom    Miss    Blind    presents,"  says   the  New  York 


"  Miss  Blind's  little  biographical  study  of  George  Eliot  is  written  with 
sympathy  and  good  taste,  and  is  very  welcome.  It  \'ives  us  a  graphic  if  not 
elaborate  sketch  of  the  personality  and  development  o.  the  great  novelist,  is 
particularly  full  and  authentic  concerning  her  earlier  years,  tells  enough  of 
the  leading  motives  in  her  work  to  give  the  general  reader  a  lucid  idea  of  the 
true  drift  and  purpose  of  her  art,  and  analyzes  carefully  her  various  writings, 
with  no  attempt  at  profound  criticism  or  fine  writing,  but  with  appreciu^ion, 
insight,  and  a  clear  grasp  of  those  underlying  psychological  principles  which 
are  so  closely  interwoven  in  every  production  that  came  from  her  pen."  — 
Traveller. 

"  The  lives  of  few  great  writers  have  attracted  more  curiosity  and  specula- 
tion than  that  of  George  Eliot.  Had  she  only  lived  earlier  in  the  century 
she  might  easily  have  become  the  centre  of  a  mythos.  As  it  is,  many  of  the 
anecdotes  commonly  repeated  about  her  are  made  up  largely  of  fable.  It  is, 
therefore,  well,  before  it  is  too  late,  to  reduce  the  true  story  of  her  career  to 
the  lowest  terms,  and  this  service  has  been  well  done  by  the  author  of  the 
present  volume."  — Philadelphia  Press. 


-•o*- 


Sold  by  all  booksellers,  or  mailed,  post-paid,  On  receipt  of 
price,  by  the  publishers, 

ROBERTS  BROTHERS.  Boston. 


Mil' I , 


IONS. 


Messrs.  Roberts  Brothers'  P.cblu   funs. 


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idea  of  the 
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—  Si^urday 

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ler  pen."  — 

and  specula- 
the  century 
many  of  the 
fable.  It  is, 
ler  career  to 
uthor  of  the 


receipt  of 

Boston. 


FAMOUS  WOMEN  SERIES. 


EMILY    BRONTE. 

By   a.    MARY    F.    ROBINSON. 
One  vol.  16mo.  Cloth.  Fhoo,  $1.00. 

"  Miss  Robinson  has  written  a  fascinating  biography.  .  .  .  Emily  Bronti*  is 
interesting,  not  because  she  wrote  '  Wuthering  Heights,'  but  because  of  her 
brave,  baffled,  human  life,  so  lonely,  so  full  of  pain,  but  with  a  great  hope  shining 
beyond  all  the  darkness,  and  a  passionate  defiance  in  bearing  more  than  the 
burdens  that  were  laid  upon  her.  The  stury  of  the  three  sisters  is  infinitely  sad, 
but  it  is  the  ennobling  sadness  that  belongs  to  large  natures  cramped  and  striving 
for  freedom  to  heroic,  almost  desperate,  work,  with  little  or  no  result.  The  author 
of  this  intensely  interesting,  sympathetic,  and  eloquent  biography,  is  a  young  lady 
and  a  poet,  to  whom  a  place  is  given  in  a  recent  anthology  of  hving  English  poets, 
which  is  supposed  to  contain  only  the  best  poems  of  the  best  writers.  —  Boston 
Daily  A  dvertiser. 

"  Miss  Robinson  had  many  excellent  qualifications  for  the  task  she  has  per- 
formed in  this  little  volume,  among  which  may  be  named,  an  enthusiastic  interest 
in  her  subject  and  a  real  sympathy  with  Emily  Bronte's  sad  and  heroic  life.  '  To 
represent  her  as  she  was,^says  Miss  Robinson,  *  would  be  her  noblest  and  most 
fitting  monument.' .  .  .  Emily  Bronte  here  becomes  well  known  to  us  and,  in  one 
sense,  this  should  be  praise  enough  for  any  biography."  — A^*a/  York  Times. 

"The  biographer  who  finds  such  material  before  him  as  the  lives  and  characters 
of  the  Bronte  family  need  have  no  anxiety  as  to  the  interest  of  his  work.  Char- 
acters not  only  strong  but  so  uniquely  strong,  genius  so  supreme,  misfortunes  so 
overwhelming,  set  in  its  scenery  so  forlornly  picturesque,  could  not  fail  to  attract 
nil  readers,  if  told  even  in  the  most  prosaic  language.  When  we  add  to  this,  that 
Miss  Robinson  has  told  their  story  not  in  prosaic  language,  but  with  a  literary 
style  exhibiting  all  the  qualities  essential  to  good  biography,  our  readers  will 
understand  that  this  life  of  Emily  Bronte  is  not  only  as  interesting  as  a  novel,  but 
a  great  deal  more  interesting  than  most  novels.  As  it  presents  most  vividly  a 
general  picture  of  the  family,  tnere  seems  hardly  a  reason  for  giving  it  Emily's  name 
alone,  except  perhaps  for  the  masterly  chapters  on  '  Wuthering  Heights,'  which 
the  reader  will  find  a  grateful  condensa  tion  of  the  best  in  that  powerful  but  some- 
what forbidding  story.  We  know  of  no  point  in  the  Bronte  history  —  their  genius, 
their  surroundings,  their  faults,  their  happiness,  their  misery,  their  love  and  friend- 
ships, their  peculiarities,  their  power,  their  gentleness,  their  patience,  their  pride, 
—  which  Miss  Robinson  has  not  touched  upon  with  conscientiousness  and  sym- 
pathy."— The  Critic. 

" '  Emily  Bronte '  is  the  second  of  the  '  Famous  Women  Series,'  which  Roberts 
Brothers,  Boston,  propose  to  publish,  and  of  which  '  George  Eliot '  was  the  initial 
volume.  Not  the  least  remarkable  of  a  very  remarkable  family,  the  personage 
whose  life  is  heie  written,  possesses  a  peculiar  interest  to  all  who  are  at  all  familiar 
with  the  sad  and  singular  history  of  herself  and  her  sister  Charlotte.  That  the 
author,  Miss  A.  Marv  F.  Robinson,  has  done  her  work  with  minute  fidelity  to 
facts  as  well  as  affectionate  devotion  to  the  subject  of  her  sketch,  is  plainly  to  be 
seen  all  through  the  book."  —  W^ashington  Post. 


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FIGURES  OP  THE  PAST.     From  the  Leaves  of  Old 

Journals.     By  Josiah  Quincy  (Class  of  1821,  Harvard 

College).    i6mo.     Price, $i'SO. 

"  There  are  chapters  on  life  in  the  Academy  at  Andover,  on  Harvard  Sixty  Year* 
Ago,  on  Commencement  Day  in  183 1,  the  year  of  the  author's  graduation,  and  on 
visits  to  and  talks  with  John  Adams,  with  reminiscences  of  Lafayette,  Judge  Story, 
John  Randolph,  Jackson  and  other  eminent  persons,  and  sketches  of  old  Washington 
and  old  Boston  society.  The  kindly  pen  of  the  autnor  is  never  dipped  in  gall — he 
remembers  the  plcasine  aspects  of  character,  and  his  stories  and  anecdotes  are  told  in 
the  best  of  humor  and  leave  no  sting.  The  book  is  of  a  kind  which  we  are  not  likely 
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closed,  linked  us  with  davs,  events  and  men  that  were  a  part  of  our  early  history  and 
appear  remote  because  ot  the  multitude  of  changes  that  have  transformed  society  in 
the  interval." — Boston  Journal. 


'  '  ' 


WHIST,    OR    BUMBLEPUPPY?       By    Pembridge. 

From  the  Second  London  Edition.      i6mo.     Cloth.      Price,  .50 

DBnNiTiON  OF  BuMBLBPUPPV— Bumblepupijy  is  persisting  to  play  whist,  eithei 
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^  '"Whist,  or  Bumblepuppy?'  is  one  of  the  most  entertaining,  and  at  the  same 
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Upon  the  ordinary  rules  of  whist,  Pembridge  supplies  much  sensible  and  thor-* 
oughly  amusing  comment.  The  best  player  in  the  world  may  gain  from  his  ob* 
servations,  and  a  mediocre  player  can  scarcely  find  a  better  counsellor.  There  is 
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PEARLS  OP  THE  FAITH ;  or,  Islam's  Rosary ;  being 
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"Mr.  Edwin  Arnold  has  finished  his  Oriental  trilogy.  The  first  part  is  'The 
Light  of  Asia'  The  second  ^art  is  'The  Indian  Song  of  Songs.'  The  trilogy  is 
completed  by  '  Pearls  of  thn  Faith,' in  which  the  poet  tellsthcbcadsof  a  pious  Moslem. 
The  Mohammedan  has  a  chaplet  of  three  strings,  etch  string  containing  33  be.-ids, 
each  bcid  representing  one  ot  the  'Ninetyjnine  beautiful  names  of  Allah.'  These 
short  poems  have  no  connection ;  they  vary  in  measure,  but  are  all  simple  and  without 
a  toucn  of  dbsruritv.  All  the  legends  and  instructions  inculcate  the  gentle  virtues 
that  make  life  uvely— courtesy,  humility,  hospitality,  care  for  the  poor  and  the  ill, 
kmdness  to  dumb  animals,  pertect  manners  in  social  intercourse.  Many  of  the  noems 
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S' ven  by  these  poems  is  very  pleasant ;  the  precepts  for  life  here  are  sweet  and  noble ; 
e  promises  for  heaven  are  definite;  they  appeal  directly  to  the  love  of  what  is 
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modem  aspects,  and  he  presents  its  scenes  of  nature  in  their  most  fascinating  form. 
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and  his  criticisms  are,  in  the  main,  just  and  satisfactory."  —  Western  Christian 
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NORSE  STORIES,  RETOLD  FROM  THE  EDDAS. 

By  Hamilton  W.  Mabie.     i6mo.    Cloth.    Price,    .    .    $1.00 

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the  book."  — Pre'^.  R.  B.  Anderson. 

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freshness,  fascination  and  simplicity  in  his  new  version  of  them,  and  one  reads  with 
nnabated  pleasure  of  Odin's  search  for  wisdom,  of  the  wooing  of  Gerd,  and  of  all 
the  strange  adventures  of  Thor,  of  the  beautiful  Balder,  of  the  wicked  Loke,  and, 
best  of  all,  of  the  new  earth  that  was  created  after  long  years  of  darkness,  in  which 
there  was  no  sun,  no  moon,  no  stars,  no  Asgard,  noHel,  no  Jotunheim;  in  which 
gods,  giants,  monsters  and  men  were  all  dead— the  earth  upon  which  the  gods  i-'ok 
lovingTy,  upon  which  men  are  industrious  and  obedient,  and  know  that  the  All-Faiher 
helps  them." — Boston  Daily  A  dvertiser. 


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A    LITTLE    PILGRIM.      Reprinted   from    Macmillah's 

Magazine.    i6mo.    Cloth.    Red  edges.    Price,  ....    $  .75 

^  "An  exquisitely  written  little  sketch  is  found  in  that  remarkable  production,  "The 
Little  Pilgrim,'  which  is  just  now  attracting  much  attention  both  in  Europe  and 
America.  It  is  highly  imaginative  in  its  scope,  representing  one  of  the  world-worn 
and  wearv  pilgrims  of  our  earthly  sphere  as  entering  upon  the  delights  of  heaven 
after  death.  The  picture  ofheaven  is  drawn  with  the  rarest  delicacy  and  refinement, 
and  is  in  a^eable  contrast  in  this  respect  to  the  material  sketch  of  this  future  home 
furnished  m  Miss  Stuart  Phelps's  well-remembered  'Gates  Ajar.*  The  book  will  be 
a  balm  to  the  heart  of  many  readers  who  are  in  accord  with  the  faith  of  its  author: 
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affecting  simplicity  of  its  almost  perfect  literary  style." — Saturday  Evening^  Gazette. 

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and,  indeed,  it  seems  on  reading  this  little^  book  aa  if  there  were  a  great  probabUi^ 
about  it.  A  soft,  gentle  tone  pervades  its  every  sentence,  and  one  cannot  read  it 
without  feeling  refreshed  and  strengthened."  —  The  A  Ita  California. 

THE  GREAT  EPICS  OF  MEDIEVAL  GERMANY. 

An  Outline  of  their  Contents  and  History.    By  George       .;  :-J 
Theodore  Dippold,  Professor  at  Boston  University  and 
Wellesley  College.    i6mo.    Cloth.    Price, $1.50 

Professor  Francis  J.  Child,  of  Harvard  College,  says :  "  It  is  an  excellent  account 
of  the  chief  German  heroic  poems  of  the  Middle  Ages,  accompanied  with  spirited 
translations.  It  is  a  book  which  gives  both  a  brief  and  popular,  and  also  an  accurate, 
account  of  this  important  section  of  literature,  and  will  he  very  welcome  here  and  at 
other  colleges." 

"No  student  of  modem  literature,  and  above  all  no  student  who  aims  to  under- 
stand  the  literary  development  of  Europe  in  its  fullest  range,  can  leave  this  rich  and 
ample  world  of  early  song  unexplored.  To  all  such  Professor  Dippold's  book  will 
have  the  value  of  a  trustworthy  guide.  .  .  .  It  has  all  the  interest  of  a 
chapter  in  the  growth  of  the  human  mind  into  comprehension  of  the  universe  and  of 
itself,  and  it  has  the  pervading  charm  of  the  vast  realm  of  poetry  through  whidi  it 
moves."  —  CArM^M!«  Union, 


MY  HOUSEHOLD  OF  PETS.      By  Theophile  Gautier.       { 

Translated  from  the  French  by  Susan  Coolidge.    With 
illustrations  by  Frank  Rogers.     i6mo.    Cloth.    Price,      .    $1.25 

"  This  little  book  will  interest  lovers  of  animals,  and  the  quaint  style  in  which 
M.  Gautier  tells  of  the  wisdom  of  his  household  pets  will^  please  every  one.  The 
translator,  too,  is  happy  in  her  work,  for  she  has  succeeded  in  rendering  the  text  into 
English  without  loss  of  the  French  tone,  which  makes  it  fascinating.  These  house- 
hold pets  consisted  of  white  and  black  cats,  dogs,  chameleons,  lizards,  magpies,  and 
horses,  each  of  which  has  a  character  and  story  of  its  own.  Illustrations  and  a  pretty 
binding  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  volume.''  —  Worcester  Sfy. 

"The  ease  and  elegance  of  Theophile  Gautier's  diction  is  wonderful,  and  the 
translator  has  preserved  the  charm  of  the  French  author  with  far  more  than  the 
average  fidelity.  *  My  Household  of  Pets  *  is  a  book  which  can  be  read  with  pleasure 
by  young  and  old.     It  is  a  charming  volume.  —  St.  Louis  Spectator. 


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(ring  the  text  into 
g.  These  house- 
rds,  magpies,  and 
tions  and  a  pretty 

inderful,  and  the 
ir  more  than  the 
ead  with  pleasure 


or  will  be  sent 


8,  Boston. 


HH 


v  :.■-''- 


a 


.i ' 


i  ■-- 


f'l 


